Lakers Want Pau Gasol To Do More

With Kobe Bryant recuperating from off-season surgery, the Lakers will need more from Pau Gasol. They’re asking for more, too, via the L.A. Times: “The bar has been raised for Pau Gasol — by Lakers Coach Phil Jackson and assistant Brian Shaw. They want him to be more of a force for the Lakers when the regular season starts Tuesday night at Staples Center against the Houston Rockets. Jackson and Shaw maintained that Gasol has to be The Man for perhaps the first month of the season because, as Shaw said, ‘We’re kind of limping going into the season.’ … ‘They [Jackson and Shaw] are ambitious,’ Gasol said. ‘I’ve responded pretty well to different challenges in my career. But again, whatever is needed, whatever is asked of me, I’ll try to step up and deliver.” … Gasol quickly pointed out that it wasn’t as if his play during the exhibition season was shabby. ‘I’m sure it needs some tuneup and sharpening,’ he said. ‘But I’m not discontent with where I’m at right now. Like I said, I look forward to the start-up Tuesday and to be really aggressive on both ends and step up the intensity level. That’s going to be the key for us to get going that way to be intense on both ends of the court. And it starts with me too.'”