Friday, November 23rd, 2012 at 1:25 pm  |  129 responses

Kobe Bryant Thinks Pau Gasol is ‘Coasting’ in the Los Angeles Lakers’ Offense


Every season, almost without fail, Kobe Bryant publicly throws teammate Pau Gasol under the bus. Here’s the latest example, as Bryant told the media that Gasol is used to “coasting” in the Laker attack, something that needs to change immediately with new head coach Mike D’Antoni on board. Reports the LA Daily News: “Following the Lakers’ 113-97 loss Tuesday at Sacramento, the team sounded frank on what ailed Pau Gasol after posting only eight points on 3-of-10 shooting and one offensive rebound. ‘Pau is used to laboring up the floor and coasting a little bit,’ Kobe Bryant said. ‘In this offense, we have to put the motor on the first few steps we move up the court.’ That didn’t happen. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins beat Gasol on two consecutive drives in the second quarter. The Lakers forward looked frustrated after defensive breakdowns. And as coach Mike D’Antoni noted afterward, ‘Pau didn’t have his legs’ after logging 37 minutes. Gasol took ownership of his shooting woes, but downplayed how his conditioning could fare in D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense.”

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  • Fat Lever

    If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that Lebron James would have never said this about a teammate. Discuss.

  • Anon

    Idiot Kobe was on the block most of 07 he demanded a trade in the summer and almost ended up with the bulls

  • Drig’r

    Acutally, Kobe and Bynum were taking the Lakers to a top 3 seed that season even without Pau…………

    Next, it’s kinda laughable to think that MJ never needed Pippen to guard the best player on the opposing teams and be the primary ball handler too. Remember the 1991 Finals? Remember who was the guy who changed the outcome of the series?? Not MJ.

    Three, every superstar player always needed a superstar beside him to win. It’s not like Kobe failed to win with a superstar perimeter player. Kobe never had the chance to play like that.

    And I kindly ask you to watch the games. Pau’s D has been lethargic in every single game this season. Every single game. His O isn’t too big of a problem but he’s not stopping any defender.

  • Drig’r

    Pretty sure Kobe “quitting” is better than 90% of the L’s “100% effort” games.

    Kobe’s had bad games. Kobe’s had a few games where he wanted to make statements. Kobe allegedly “quit” in game 7 vs Phx in your opinion.

  • Drig’r

    Yup, didn’t find anything else to criticize Kobe’s play right?? LOL.

  • Drig’r

    THis is sensible. Agreed that Dwight also should’ve been called out.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    That’s not really an opinion. We watched the games. 3 shots in the 2nd half? If that’s not quitting, what is it?

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Being a top 3 seed is nice until you get eliminated in the playoffs. Bynum wasn’t going to be enough to get Kobe to the Finals especially with his knees liable to buckle at any point. Which is why they made the trade for Gasol. If they didn’t need him, they wouldn’t have traded for him. Make excuses for Kobe like the other Kobe stans here. They don’t work. Also, not every superstar needed another one. Dirk, Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olaujuwon. Duncan played with one superstar in David Robinson. He’s won 2 since Robinson retired and he was actually the best player on each of those 4 championship teams even while Robinson was . Ginobili and Parker are stars, not superstars. Clyde wasn’t a superstar by the time he got to Houston. Dirk had Jason Terry hitting shots and a great defensive big man in Tyson Chandler along with a former superstar in Kidd. But he was the unquestioned top dog on that team with no peer. What people don’t talk about enough is Jordan’s efficiency. Even on bad teams, he still shot over 50%. Kobe on bad teams? 46% at best. I won’t go too far into the comparisons but I’m proving that there is no argument to be made for Kobe deserving to be in the same sentence as Jordan. As for your argument about Kobe never being fortunate enough to play with another perimeter player like Scottie Pippen, imagine Jordan playing with a guy like Shaq…And defensively as it relates to the Lakers now, who is Kobe stopping these days?

  • Caboose

    YO HATER, KOBE WAS TRYING TO MOTIVATE HIS TEAM. YOU THINK HE CAN ALWAYS JUST GO OUT AND SCORE??? HE WAS BEING A PLAYMAKER, THE SAME VERSATILITY THAT GOT HIM 5 RINGS!

  • Dagger

    No need to discuss; everyone knows it’s true.

  • manhandled

    Well put. Real basketball fans knew who Pau was before he was traded to LA: He was one of the best pf/c in the game, the best player on Memphis, and the sole reason for any success that Memphis may have had during that era because he didn`t have much to work with when he played for the Grizzles. The Pau Gasol trade immediately made LA relevant again and the reason that LA won back-to-back championships. Kobe and Bynum by themselves were never going to be enough. EVER

  • Dagger

    Oh yes, Gasol responded wonderfully tonight, as Kobe took 8 more shots than Gasol and Howard combined. That’s leadership for you.

  • Datkid

    you’re missing the point, you can’t really whine to somebody about quitting… if you yourself quit/shot yourself out of games. it’s hypocritical. and that goes for everyone even your beloved kobe

  • Conor

    How often does that happen every season? Ten of every eighty-two games? I’d take Kobe’s production with the occasional turnovers versus two consecutive seasons of piss-poor play.

    The only difference are the players’ respective expectations of winning. One has been far more successful than the other.

  • Conor

    It’s called having a Canadian writing style, imbecile.

  • Conor

    There was no spelling mistake. I’m simply Canadian.

  • Conor

    What’s it like to live in the bubble otherwise known as “Americana”?

  • Conor

    What’s it like living in the bubble known as “Americana”?

  • Conor

    Did you watch the game? LMAO, Gasol had four rebounds, was utterly outplayed by Randolph & D’Antoni benched him. For what, I wonder… oh, that’s right, Kobe must have been the reason.

    Brilliant arguments, @disqus_kzFNajbi2S:disqus

  • ashnsmashem

    And pau got benched tonight in the 4th quarter for a reason. Flat footed, gets completely outplayed on both ends of the floor. And this is a habit. Coincedence non lakers fans usually think its kobes fault, obviously don’t watch ….effort carries u when your shot isn’t falling; and pau can’t do either

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    I got excited…

  • Redd

    What’s Americana? Sound’s like a fancy, expensive, non-racist prime minister having dish.

  • Drig’r

    Kobe’s played as many minutes right now as Jordan did WITH his Wiz days included i,e. an extra 5000 odd minutes. Pretty sure MJ would’ve fallen off defensively then as well.

    Show me some article where Kobe demanded a trade that season before Bynum went down. LAL only decided to trade for Pau AFTER Bynum went down lol. Mitch himself said that. So yeah, pretty sure Pau wasn’t the reason Kobe stopped whining for a trade. It was more because of the team’s improved play.

    So Pau was a superstar when the Lakers acquired him??? He was an All-Star big man who couldn’t lead his team outside the 1st round despite his best efforts.

    I’m not dissing Pau here though. But he was more like what Al J was considered a few years back in a better light: A great post-up player who has great vision and is versatile but below average D for most of the season.

    Kobe torched bad defensive teams like the Suns AND good defensive teams like the Spurs and Utah in the POs. What he hasn’t done is torch teams in the NBA Finals ( ’09 comes closest ). Don’t think you remember them though. Go on with the mindless hate.

    I’d love you imagining Jordan to play with Shaq. Kobe and Shaq were arguably the greatest 1-2 punch but both had to sacrifice their games to accommodate each other’s strengths i.e. their talents didn’t tie in seamlessly.

    Jordan never had the range Kobe did. Jordan would’ve been asked to live on the perimeter and score to keep defenses honest, Pretty sure that Jordan’s efficiency would’ve taken a hit.

  • Drig’r

    Yup. He “quit” about 6 years ago. Pau displayed 6 years ago. Let’s call Kobe hypocritical on the basis of what he was 6 years ago. Makes tons of sense.

  • Drig’r

    Except Kobe hasn’t quit games the last 2 seasons. He’s had bad games but he hasn’t ever given less than 100% effort despite his limitations. Calling Kobe hypocritical on the basis of what he did 6 years ago is totally irrelevant to what is happening this season. And Kobe “quit” 1 game. Pau hasn’t shown up for 8-9 games on defense. He’s bad. Even by Kobe defense standards he’s bad.

  • Drig’r

    One person who didn’t watch the game. Pretty sure more guys will be added to the list.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/lee_jenkins/02/22/kobe.bryant.pau.gasol/index.html

    Kobe says himself in that article “Now I got my guy” meaning if the Lakers had never made that trade, he would have still felt like he was playing by himself. That is with or without Bynum on the floor. Mind you this is the same dude who was caught on video criticizing the organization for not trading Bynum for Jason Kidd that same summer in 2007 when he demanded to be traded himself. Mitch said the trade was because of Bynum being injured, but Kobe himself disagrees and believes that his trade demand was the reason the organization went out and got Gasol. The article talks about Gasol’s impact on Kobe’s career post-Shaq.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Doesn’t matter when he quit. The point is a player who has actually quit on his team multiple times (regular season game against Sacramento, playoff game 7 against the Suns) shouldn’t say a word about a guy coasting. Game 7s are when superstar players are supposed to do their best work. At least go out fighting if you’re going to lose. 3 shots in the 2nd half isn’t really putting up a fight. Not if you’re the best player in the world which he was at that time.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    lol You know Kobe fans very well.

  • Dagger

    This cracked me up. Look, the main point is that Gasol obviously didn’t respond well to Kobe’s “leadership.” But beyond that: obviously there were some extenuating circumstances last night, but isn’t that always the case? Shaq didn’t get more shots than Kobe because he was “lazy.” Even during Kobe’s second championship run Gasol didn’t get enough shots because that was the nature of the offense. Now, with Howard and Gasol, they’re out of shape and coming back from injury.

    Every game is different, the shape of the roster and offense are important and Kobe’s not always the culprit. BUT you have to admit that, historically, the Lakers could have been even better for the past 10+ years had Kobe made the easy pass to the post more often than jacking up a contested jumper. I wouldn’t be surprised if, deep down, Kobe was never happier with the Lakers offense than when he was jacking up 27+ shots/game.

  • Yesse

    Funny. When i look at the games i see Pau as one of the key guys in the offense.

    First of all, whenever he gets the ball to the high post, he has alot of options. He can lob it up to Dwight, he can shoot, he can drive and those are not his only options.

    I hate hearing cheap excuses like this. I don’t understand why Lakers play this terrible with the roster they have.

  • Drig’r

    I fought with Allenp over the same thing earlier in the year. Let’s just agree to disagree. I just hope you also believe LBJ quit vs the Celts.

    Anyways, you can count the number of times Kobe didn’t show effort his entire career on one hand. You can also count the number of times Pau played well enough on both ends of the floor this season on one hand.

  • TheKid

    You’re not talking about 2006 right? That would be hilarious and pointless, wouldn’t it?

    Say what you will about Kobe fans, but I’ll be damned if the haters aren’t worse.

  • Drig’r

    “Though general manager Mitch Kupchak said the trade was precipitated by an injury in early 2008 to center Andrew Bynum,”

    And that’s the truth. Kobe went on a tirade when LAL refused to take on Kidd for Bynum but he zipped his mouth and played with Bynum and won games. He didn’t demand a trade that season.

    What you said was what Kobe believed. Kobe also gave a credible reason about his game 7 performance.

    Again, I don’t get why we’re considering what Pau HAS DONE while judging what he’s BEEN DOING. Pau’s been bad defensively. He was benched in favor of Jamison. JAMISON!!!

    Mike D realizes what’s up. And I’m glad that he didn’t mince words in the press conference about Gasol’s play. A lot of sensible Laker fans know that without Pau, we’re gonna be done this season unless we upgrade ALL our role players. That’s the reason everyone’s so harsh on Gasol. Because we know he can be SO. MUCH. BETTER.

  • bigA

    I was pissed watching the lakers kings games how littlethey gave Pau the ball in the low block.
    He is a beast down there.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    LeBron did quit against the Celtics in Game 5. Almost everyone who watched that game has said that he quit. But this isn’t about him because he carried a franchise by himself for 7 seasons. Kobe had 3 seasons without star or superstar help and couldn’t take it. So no comparison needs to be made there.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Not hilarious or pointless. It’s fact. A man who notoriously quit twice has no room to talk about someone else coasting. Doesn’t matter when it happened. You must not spend a lot of time here because Kobe’s stans are far worse than any “haters”. “Haters” on this site are defined as people who bring up facts about Kobe that don’t show him in a positive light much to the dismay of his stans.

  • rjf

    Kobe needs to worry more about the teams perimeter defense which is horrible. It has been for a few yrs now. Oh and doesn’t kobe play on the perimeter?? If he’s the leader then start there. Not by throwing his teammates under the bus. It starts by looking in the mirror

  • Conor

    Nice use of apostrophe, Illiterate Grammar Warden.

  • Redd

    Technically it’s spelling you moron and that was the correct usage.

  • Conor

    “Sound is like a fancy, expensive, non-racist prime minister having dish.” sound correct to you? “Technically it’s spelling”?

    “gram·mar/ˈgramər/

    Noun:The whole system and structure of a language or of languages in general, usually taken as consisting of syntax and morphology…”

  • Conor

    Not only do you fail to understand basketball, you can’t seem to grasp your mother tongue. Congratulations.

  • juice3

    You guys are soft. Kobe isn’t saying Pau is a bum nor is he throwing him under the bus. If anything Kobe and Pau are close, they’re boys and Kobe sees Pau as his right hand man. This shouldn’t even be a story and the title is misleading

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Sanchez

    Delusional too!

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Sanchez

    Man, who cares, what’s new

  • http://twitter.com/AjpDos Allen Powell

    C’mon boss. Just admit he has quit. It ain’t the end of the world.

  • http://twitter.com/AjpDos Allen Powell

    I do believe Bron quit.

  • Redd

    ..you called me a ‘grammar warden’, earlier I corrected your spelling not grammar. Naturally stupid I see, c’est la vie.

  • Pingback: Pau Gasol: More post play will help - Pau Gasol Headlines | Sports Stumble - trending sports news at your fingertipsSports Stumble – trending sports news at your fingertips

  • Conor

    Spelling is a subsidiary of grammar. You can’t spell if you don’t have words to spell & you did so with the wrong structure of words. I know that this may be a difficult concept for you, but It’s nice to think every once in a while.

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