Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 at 10:05 am  |  146 responses

Kobe Bryant Wants Pau Gasol to Get More Touches in the Post


Under Mike Brown and Mike D’Antoni, Pau Gasol has drifted further and further away from the hoop, frustrating him and Lakers fans along the way. Gasol is battling injury and facing trade rumors, but according to teammate Kobe Bryant, the team needs to re-establish Pau in the post where he is most effective and dominant. Per ESPN: “Amid rising pressure and growing trade speculation smothering the ailing Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant offered his strongest public support to date to back the Spaniard with whom he has won two NBA championships. ‘I love Pau like a brother,’ Bryant said. ‘I really do. I want him to dominate like I know he can. I want him to dig in and be determined, not discouraged,’ Bryant continued. ‘We should go to him more on the post because he can dominate from there as he has to the tune of two rings. I’m sure we will adjust and figure out a balance when he comes back healthy.’ [...] Bryant and Gasol had a lengthy summit Monday night at the team hotel in Houston. ‘I know his knees have been hurting and that can be frustrating because you can’t do physically what you are used to,’ Bryant said. ‘I just don’t want him to sulk about the change of things.’ Gasol is averaging 12.6 points and shooting 42 percent from the floor, both career lows, in new Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense. Both he and D’Antoni have acknowledged that his role is and will be quite different than what it has historically been for the Lakers.”

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  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    I have never heard of Dwayne Wade having tendinitis, but ill take your word for it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    Im from Portland

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    that’s because you are arguing from a state of complete and utter ignorance.

    .

    here is an article from 2008, when Wade was shut down for the season because of Tendinitis.

    .

    http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23563239/
    .
    You should just take that you are arguing with people who pay extremely close attention to all of this. Discussing the NBA, and everything that goes on in it, is how we pass time during the week. If Caboose, me, or many of the other people here confront you about something you say, it’s safe to assume we are doing it from a place of knowledge (not intelligence which is different, but knowledge, or learned experience). Not out of the need to argue or disagree, but because we generally know what we are talking about.

  • speedy

    STFU. Sabonis is a legend.

    You should really ask yourself if you are making the conversation senseless with the stuff you bring up.

    Read your own post and see how you disprove yourself way to often.

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    He appeared tough when there was no Kendrick Perkins..

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    He’s also a good high post passer

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    @facebook-749734433:disqus – Steve Francis’ career was decimated by Tendinitis. If you need an example of just how detrimental it can be.

  • shutup

    and?

  • pposse

    Chi city is more than willing to trade boozer for Pau

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    lol, ok granted. so is NYK with Amar’e. But let’s try and think of something LA would do also lol

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    Im not surprised Wade has tendinitis.

    I have a lot of basketball knowledge that you fail to realize but its understandable i guess. Everybody can be hard headed but Im going to prove my very arguable point one last time.

    Talent and stats are important. I say they are each a third of how you determine what a player is. The last third? Intangibles. Let me break this down for you with my basketball knowledge,

    Larry Bird
    Lebron James

    Larrys talent < Lebron
    Larrys stats Lebron

    Thus making Larry Bird still debatable as a basketball player to Lebron.
    Use this same theory for

    Vince Carter
    Kobe Bryant

    Rasheed Wallace
    Tim Duncan

    Pau has lacked that extra boost in his chest that has been hidden by Mamba and Bynum since he has been in LA. Basically he is 2 thirds of the player he can be. Now that his production in the areas where he excelled in hasnt been there for two years, he is not good enough to change an offense for. Let alone not trade, for a player that can bring to a team what Pau can’t because the points and the passing and the low post scoring can be made up for with the talent LA has. They need what he can’t give them, which is heart.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    that’s not true. i know i have at one time or another admitted the Lakers wouldn’t win jack sh*t without Kobe. So I’m atleast up on him 1-0

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    Do your homework

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    “Pau has lacked that extra boost in his chest that has been hidden by Mamba and Bynum since he has been in LA.”

    .

    You are completely ignorant.

    .

    Completely.
    (2008 Finals)
    .http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2008_finals.html

    .

    Look at Every Game the Lakers WON.

    .

    Consistently, the best player on the team was Pau. Lucky for Kobe, the Finals MVP voters care about the games you lose too.

    .

    How many Playoff Rounds has Kobe Bryant won without Shaq or Pau Gasol?

    .

    Andrew f*cking Bynum was better than Pau for one season, which was last season. And he was really really really really good. While Gasol was only really really good.

    .
    Your point is wrong. Blatantly wrong.
    .
    And you naming names without any sort of reasoning or argument at all is not an expression of basketball knowledge. It’s an expression of remembering basketball player’s names, some of which under achieved, some over achieved. — None of them relate to Pau Gasol in any way.
    .
    But thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    You believed that? haha that says a lot.

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    “Consistently, the best player on the team was Pau. Lucky for Kobe, the Finals MVP voters care about the games you lose too.”

    I don’t know if I can argue that because Pau played out of his mind in those championship runs. I was a huge Pau Gasol believer.

    But then I seen Pau against the Mavs when the Lakers were swept. Or against the Thunder last season. Or even that series against Chris Paul and the Hornets.

    I was left thinking, Did Pau even play. He has the talent so what’s the reason behind not dominating like he did in the finals in every series??

    Thats where my argument comes in.

    Toughness, heart, determination.

    Why did Dirk win in 2011 when he was a better athlete in 2006?

    Toughness, heart, determination.

    You can ignore this but your argument is biased without understanding what Pau lacks.

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    Did you see Pau play in those playoffs. It explains a lot

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Ths all goes back to square one, Mike Brown used Pau like he was Dirk. Which, especially in the playoffs, put him in an extremely uncomfortable position. Now he’s hurt. .
    In terms of the series against Dallas, Pau was mentally gone from that series dealing with his personal stuff. None of that applies to how good he actually is

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Yes in a sense it does, but Shannon Brown was not what was really behind it dude. That’s just a story the media used to garner attention to their story. Which obviously worked.

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    Mentally gone?

    Let me put you up on game to something. If a player can be mentally gone and get away with it he wasnt strong mentally to begin with.
    Dwayne Wade didnt know where his kids were before a NBA finals game and still balled out. I think he was probably mentally gone. Notice how Wade and Soft never get brought up with eachother. I cant think of another 2-time champion that would let another man even the Great Mamba himself tell him to put his big boy pants on without some kind of masculine comeback. This explains Pau’s career as a laker

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    You are naive as f*ck if you think everyone should handle personal situations the same. It that the degree in which all personal things accrue are the same. I’m done, this stuff will make more sense once you have more life experience. I used to say the same type of stuff you are saying here. When I was about your age.

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    To make it simple.

    Reggie Evans and Dennis Rodman have made a career doing what Pau is incapable of

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    That is also dumb. You could say vice versa to that. Neither prove anything.

  • bigA

    You should have watched the Olympics to see what Gasol can really do when he gets the touches, is motivated and healthy.
    He is a beast! Too long too good.

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    I have plenty life experience.

    Fighting through adversity is what humans do in basketball or life. The people who succeed are strong mentally and the people who don’t are Pau

    Im not saying Pau should’ve threw Mamba under the bus but a casual joke or affirmative remark would’ve at least shown he’s capable of wearing those pants. That’s what men do when their manhood is attacked I dont care how old you are.

    This debate is a stale-mate because you are only gonna see stats and talent and leave out other factors. I don’t see Pau being a top tier PF and you see otherwise. By next season it will be clear.

  • skywalker

    CabooseRN, that’s supposed to be an insult?

  • roscoe

    can you please try to use a current criminal for your analogies old-timer?

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    I don’t know why i have to say this. Pau is good. Talent wise he is top 10 maybe top 5. Other factors lead to him not being a beast every night,

  • roscoe

    besides the fact going surfing is better than entertaining your arguments…

    Pau has succeeded and is mentally tough.

    He is arguably the most successful European basketball players in the history of our world. He is a team first guy, intelligent, probably one of the best read athletes in the USA, and cares quite a bit about ppl. Lastly, he left his country to at a young age to play a sport in a new country and did fold up his tent and go home like so many other athletes have at young ages.

    You should try traveling on your own in different countries, taking a few deep breaths, and thinking just a bit before you punch your keyboard… it would give you a better perspective on Pau Gasol and his success as well as give your true intelligence a chance to show itself.

  • shockexchange

    Sco Sco I may be old but I still count to “fiddy”

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    You don’t know sh*t about anyone’s life but your own. Pretty simply. .
    And the day you realize that, is the first day you know anything.

  • shockexchange

    Sco Sco I may be old but I can still count to “fiddy.”

  • https://twitter.com/jasontichenor Mr. Wet

    I don’t honestly think boozer would make LA worse. If I’m not mistaken though he has just as scary a contract. I can’t really think of a whole lot of trades that make sense. Ideally I guess they could go for young cheap talent and hope Jamison is the answer at 4. But, I’m not familiar with how much difference the salaries can be in trades.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Oh boozer’s contract is worse. That’s the main problem. And he’s not a 7-footer, so defensively he is not what they’d need. LA would rather get Taj and other pieces honestly. But Chi wouldn’t do that.

  • shockexchange

    Sco Sco As long as you know what the Shock Exchange meant, that’s all that matters.

  • RedRum

    Koombuy.. leave the bong down my son… you have start to be sille. David Lee, Anderson and Bargnani outplay Pau??? seriously boy, what else have you put in that bong apart from pot?

  • https://twitter.com/jasontichenor Mr. Wet

    holy crap. I actually read all this.

    I like Pau, even if I thought his name was Paul for a few years.

  • https://twitter.com/jasontichenor Mr. Wet

    I think it would be funny if they sent him to phoenix for Gortat. How pissed would Gortat be? (I completely realize that makes no sense on the court)

    Does Houston have the picks/players to make something happen? Would still having scola there been an option (Even if I think he’s a poor man’s gasol) I like hypotheticals.

  • Caboose

    I’m sorry you had to endure Koombuy Pride.

  • Caboose

    “You are only gonna see stats and talent and leave out other factors.” Like what you moron? How neat Pau can do his hair?

  • candlewood jay NJ

    **than
    **overrated

  • Caboose

    Kings get: Pau Gasol
    Lakers get: John Salmons, Thomas Robinson, Francisco Garcia
    —–
    Raptors get: Pau Gasol, 2013 Lakers 1st Round Pick
    Lakers get: Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, 2013 Raptors 2nd Round Pick
    —–
    Lakers get: Paul Millsap, Travis Outlaw, 2013 Kings 2nd Round Pick
    Jazz get: Tyreke Evans, John Salmons, Francisco Garcia
    Kings get: Pau Gasol, Marvin Williams
    —–
    Lakers get: Nene, Chris Singleton, 2014 Wizards 2nd Round Pick
    Magic get: Emeka Okafor, 2013 Lakers 2nd Round Pick
    Wizards get: Pau Gasol, Hedo Turkoglu, Nikola Vucevic
    —–
    Lakers get: Stephen Jackson, John Salmons, Gary Neal, Spurs 2013 2nd Round Pick
    Spurs get: Pau Gasol, Kings 2013 2nd Round Pick
    Kings get: Dejuan Blair, Matt Bonner
    —–
    Lakers get: Joe Johnson, Amir Johnson
    Nets get: Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan, Earl Clark, Darius Johnson-Odom
    Raptors get: Pau Gasol, Marshon Brooks, 2013 Nets 1st Round Pick, 2013 Lakers 1st Round Pick

  • jay

    i got tired reading how he defends that pau is a subpar guy. wtf is that man?

  • The Fury

    He’s a Laker fan for sure, they always point the finger on Pau when their team sucks.

  • roscoe

    i may have been the only that knew of him… lol.

  • roscoe

    lol

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