Is Gasol out of the mix?

Raptors1995 · 12-03-2012, 02:00 AM

Quote:

The Lakers scored 122 points against the Denver Nuggets last Friday. They took 33 three-point shots, made 17 and 18 of the attempts came from two bench players – Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks.

Welcome to the world of Mike D'Antoni and Seven Seconds or Less... And that's without its Maestro Steve Nash in uniform.

D'Antoni's is an equal opportunity offense. If you are in the game, you are free to jack up a three-point shot if you think you're open. If he doesn’t like you shooting three-point shots or you struggle in his system, he doesn't play you much. If you don’t believe me, go ask Jordan Hill. Pretty soon All-Star Pau Gasol will start to feel neglected. That’s when conversations will ramp up about trading him for a perimeter power forward who doesn’t mind staying out of Dwight Howard’s way on the basketball court.

Gasol is arguably the most versatile big man in the league, but he is fragile offensively and this system can’t afford indecision and low confidence. The Spanish big man deserves more touches, but this system requires him to be a support player and not a focal point. This system forces him to concentrate on 15-foot jump shots, defense, rebounding, passing and an occasional post-up opportunity.

Most importantly, he has to be content watching four small players surrounding Dwight Howard in crunch time from the bench. Jamison and Meeks will be among those players and Metta World Peace better go pump some iron because he will be guarding a lot of power forwards the rest of this season.

This is Mike D'Antoni at his best and one thing I can assure Gasol is that D'Antoni will not deviate from the plan no matter how highly everybody else thinks about the Spaniard.

We saw what he likes and that is unleashing Jamison for 33 minutes and 33 points. He is versatile and stretches the defense away from Howard. Meeks took nine shots and eight of them were from beyond the arc. He will flourish just like every solid shooter who has played with Steve Nash and D'Antoni at the helm.

The Lakers' coach needs World Peace because he can guard any position and can set up behind the three-point line. So I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Gasol will more than likely suffer and become the odd man out. The proof is clear as day: His minutes per game have diminished over the last five games and his field-goal attempts and shooting percentage are in a downturn.

Gasol can’t take it personal. It's just that there is a better big man next to him by the name of Dwight Howard.

The problem for the Lakers is Gasol has a contract that’s not easy to trade... So the soap opera in Lakers Land will continue.

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HoopsHype - Gasol out of the mix

TORaptor4Ever · 12-03-2012, 02:26 AM

D'Antoni's actually come out and said that "he's going to ride Jamison for all he's worth" so Pau's PT & role could be taking a dip.....

ZanTheMan · 12-03-2012, 03:01 AM

Man these Lakers are in serious trouble...
Losing to the Magic is just weak. I doubt the return of Nash is going to change that much...

Kirby · 12-03-2012, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZanTheMan

Man these Lakers are in serious trouble...
Losing to the Magic is just weak. I doubt the return of Nash is going to change that much...

Steve Nash replacing Darius Morris in the starting line-up in Mike D'antoni's offense won't change much?

Toby · 12-03-2012, 03:08 AM

You can't lose both your point guards and expect to do well. Whiney baby Laker lovin' media need to chill. I'll be mean, I'll say it right here..... GO CLIPPERS!

ZanTheMan · 12-03-2012, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirby

Steve Nash replacing Darius Morris in the starting line-up in Mike D'antoni's offense won't change much?

Lol seriously though, a team with this much talent shouldn't struggle like that, even without Nash. Something just isn't clicking for this team. You're telling me a guy like Kobe can't take over the point guard duties for a few nights??? :P

Dario · 12-03-2012, 03:29 AM

yeah darius morris running the point, they should just let kobe run the point, and go with kobe, artest jamison pau and d12

**Ball Don't Lie** · 12-03-2012, 11:46 AM

D'Antoni proving again hes a horrible coach. Using Jamison over Pau is a joke.

LET'S GO RAPTORS!!!!! · 12-03-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thriller92

D'Antoni proving again hes a horrible coach. Using Jamison over Pau is a joke.

D'Antoni being D'Antoni.

carp · 12-03-2012, 12:06 PM

You guys are crazy, they're showcasing Jamison to trade for Josh Smith.

CobraKing · 12-03-2012, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thriller92

D'Antoni proving again hes a horrible coach. Using Jamison over Pau is a joke.

Amen Thriller. D'Antoni is a joke, won't be long before Mamba throws him under the bus.

Ataf · 12-03-2012, 01:28 PM

Never liked D'Antoni. Never thought he was good enough as a NBA coach. Wrong coach for the job. They don't need to be told how to play offence, get some defense there. The offence of the HOFers will come naturally. NO defense can stop Kobe, and Nash together alone. When you have all the other players it's astonishing why people complain about offence, you don't need MORE offence. Defense was the issue from the start. Guess who wont fix that... D'Anoni.

Nites · 12-03-2012, 03:45 PM

Some where Mike Brown is smiling

carp · 12-03-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nites

Some where Mike Brown is smiling

The guy that butchered the lineup to begin with?

jeffb · 12-03-2012, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nites

Some where Mike Brown is smiling

Princeton Offense

Raptors1995 · 12-03-2012, 04:11 PM

Quote:

LOS ANGELES -- For the second time in five games, Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol watched the final minutes of the fourth quarter from the sidelines. Kobe Bryant says Gasol has to take it into his own hands to change that.

"Put your big-boy pants on," Bryant said after the Lakers' 113-103 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday that dropped the team's record to 8-9. "Just adjust. Just adjust. You can't whine about it. You can't complain about it."

“
Put your big-boy pants on. Just adjust. Just adjust. You can't whine about it. You can't complain about it.
” -- Kobe Bryant on Pau Gasol's struggles
Gasol was subbed out with 6:07 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Lakers up 84-83. Orlando outscored L.A. 30-19 the rest of the way. Gasol ended his night with 11 points of 4-for-11 shooting, seven rebounds, two assists and a block in 29 minutes.

"I don't get irritated," Gasol said of the benching. "I like to be out there. It's upsetting for me as a player but I won't allow it to irritate me."

It was the second time the benching occurred with Gasol's family in the building. The first time came against Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies and Gasol's father and younger brother, Adria, were at Staples Center for the game Sunday.

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni downplayed the difficulty of getting Gasol back on track.

"Just talk to him," D'Antoni said. "There's no magic words out there. He's going to have to play. He still had 11 and seven and he's playing, but we just have to be a more dynamic team. We're slow right now. It's just athletically, we're struggling."

D'Antoni added that he didn't want to "lose Pau," but Bryant assured that would not be a problem.

SportsNation: Bryant And Gasol

Kobe Bryant called out Pau Gasol after a Lakers loss to the Magic. Was Kobe justified? Cast your vote!

"We're not going to lose him," Bryant said. "That's just not going to happen. I've been around him long enough. I know how to deal with him."

Gasol told reporters last week that painful and persistent tendinitis in both of his knees has been limiting his athleticism. Bryant, who publicly supported Gasol last season when he was the subject of constant trade rumors, had no interest in any excuses being made by the former four-time All-Star.

"Pau has got to make some adjustments, obviously, to his game," Bryant said. "He might not be posting up as much as he likes, but he just has to adjust.

"The reality is, I've adjusted, I've never run this many screen-rolls in my entire career. But I've worked on it. I've worked on handling the ball. I've worked on coming off of screens and making plays. I'm used to being in the post much, much more but you have to adjust.

"You have to master what it is that we're trying to do here and Pau is talented enough and he's good enough to be able to do that."

More on the Lakers

For more news, notes and analysis of the Lakers, check out the Lakers Report blog from the Kamenetzky Brothers. Blog

When asked if he was surprised by being left out of the action in the fourth, Gasol said: "I think we're all trying to figure it out and we're all trying to do our best to win the game. The coach makes his decisions and you got to respect that."

D'Antoni will continue to make decisions, but Bryant issued marching orders of his own.

"There's no excuses to be made, there's no whining," he said. "No putting your head down. We're here, we have the talent to make adjustments, we have to make them. Period. ...

"I'll kick everybody's ass in this locker room if that doesn't happen. That's the attitude that you have to have. Metta (World Peace) is the same way. Dwight (Howard) has that in him as well. Even though he smiles a lot, he still cares a lot about this thing. Like I said, come hell or high water, it has to get done."

Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles Lakers calls out Pau Gasol after loss - ESPN Los Angeles

Someguy again · 12-03-2012, 04:51 PM

i like kobes comments about gasol, he's a humble dude.

then again he showed up in a helicopter for the release of his kobe 8s.

TORaptor4Ever · 12-03-2012, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thriller92

D'Antoni proving again hes a horrible coach. Using Jamison over Pau is a joke.

I disagree in this case.

D'Antoni's working with what he has on the roster.

Jamison fits as a stretch 4 MUCH better than Pau does.

Pau needs room to operate in the low post.... although he CAN hit the outside jumper that's where he's most comfortable. There's no space for him there with D12 in the mix.

Based on the way that the Lakers are constructed now the best thing for them to do would be.....

a) Trade pau

or

b) Play him off the bench like NYK is going to do with Amare.

Rudy-T · 12-03-2012, 07:58 PM

I think the Lakers team this year has proved how much defense is about team effort rather than individuals. After all they have Dwight (Defensive player of the year couple of times), Kobe (several NBA all defensive team selections), and Ron Artest (defensive specialist) in starting lineup and Pau aint that bad defender either. Still they let Orlando score 113 on them and lose.

And Orlando was playing hack-Dwight in fourth. Dwight shot 40% of FT's. Why not with Pau instead? Its not like there was a big Center Pau couldnt defend on Orlando. Even if you want to gun three pointers, you cant do that when opposition is fouling your center all the time.

Chiggmo · 12-03-2012, 08:28 PM

I wonder how good it felt for Orlando to beat the Lakers, and Howard...

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12-03-2012, 02:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
TORaptor4Ever is embracing change Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 15,075 Representing:	D'Antoni's actually come out and said that "he's going to ride Jamison for all he's worth" so Pau's PT & role could be taking a dip.....

12-03-2012, 03:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
ZanTheMan is taking you to school Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 441 Representing:	Man these Lakers are in serious trouble... Losing to the Magic is just weak. I doubt the return of Nash is going to change that much...

12-03-2012, 03:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Toby is a nacho hound Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South of Portland, home of the Blazers Posts: 3,454 Representing:	You can't lose both your point guards and expect to do well. Whiney baby Laker lovin' media need to chill. I'll be mean, I'll say it right here..... GO CLIPPERS!

12-03-2012, 03:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dario is Life as a raptors fan... Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 6,226 Representing:	yeah darius morris running the point, they should just let kobe run the point, and go with kobe, artest jamison pau and d12

12-03-2012, 11:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ball Don't Lie is praying Drummond doesnt haunt us forever. Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 9,032 Representing:	D'Antoni proving again hes a horrible coach. Using Jamison over Pau is a joke.

12-03-2012, 12:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
carp is the rebirth of thick Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 10,706 Representing:	You guys are crazy, they're showcasing Jamison to trade for Josh Smith.

12-03-2012, 01:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ataf is On T-Ross Flight 31 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Catharines Posts: 1,086 Representing:	Never liked D'Antoni. Never thought he was good enough as a NBA coach. Wrong coach for the job. They don't need to be told how to play offence, get some defense there. The offence of the HOFers will come naturally. NO defense can stop Kobe, and Nash together alone. When you have all the other players it's astonishing why people complain about offence, you don't need MORE offence. Defense was the issue from the start. Guess who wont fix that... D'Anoni.

12-03-2012, 03:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nites is the real deal Can't knock the Hustle Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 11,892 Representing:	Some where Mike Brown is smiling

12-03-2012, 04:51 PM	#17 (permalink)
Someguy again is a boshaoplogetic member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6,076 Representing:	i like kobes comments about gasol, he's a humble dude. then again he showed up in a helicopter for the release of his kobe 8s.

12-03-2012, 07:58 PM	#19 (permalink)
Rudy-T is hoping Rudy-G will save the season Senior Citizen Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Espoo, Finland Posts: 1,801 Representing:	I think the Lakers team this year has proved how much defense is about team effort rather than individuals. After all they have Dwight (Defensive player of the year couple of times), Kobe (several NBA all defensive team selections), and Ron Artest (defensive specialist) in starting lineup and Pau aint that bad defender either. Still they let Orlando score 113 on them and lose. And Orlando was playing hack-Dwight in fourth. Dwight shot 40% of FT's. Why not with Pau instead? Its not like there was a big Center Pau couldnt defend on Orlando. Even if you want to gun three pointers, you cant do that when opposition is fouling your center all the time.

12-03-2012, 08:28 PM	#20 (permalink)
Chiggmo is rootin for the eagles, boise state, the leafs, raps, and jays Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Halifax Posts: 4,542 Representing:	I wonder how good it felt for Orlando to beat the Lakers, and Howard...