How Pau Gasol fits into the Triangle Offense

[critical_beatdown]

Gasol is going to be great in the Tri, and in a way that has little to do with Kukoc, who was more of a ball handler, playmaker, and distance sniper.

I don't see the purpose in comparing the two, other than that they are both very smart, very fundamentally sound, and good/great passers (Kukoc was a great passer, Gasol is a good one).

[critical_beatdown]

Gasol is better compared to a younger Chicago Bulls era Horace Grant, but much better and more dynamic offensively, with Horace being the better defender (though Pau is taller and longer, so should be able to rack up lots of blocks being out there with Drew).

Pau fits ideally in the Tri because he has low post, high post, midrange, mid wing scoring ability, along with being a strong driver off the dribble and excellent passer.

[The_Trade_Seer]

Gasol makes Kukoc look like a little girl.

Anyways ... I don't see the Lakers getting 60 wins this year but I do see them getting the #1 seed ... here are my playoff predictions (you might want to write these down, I'm usually pretty accurate):

1) LAKERS 59-23
2) MAVS 55-27
3) SPURS 53-29
4) JAZZ 50-32
5) SUNS 52-30
6) WARRIORS 49-33
7) NUGGETS 49-33
8 ) ROCKETS 47-35

(Yes, the Blazers and HORNETS will miss the playoffs!)

I see the Lakers taking out the Rockets 4-1, the Suns 4-2 and the Mavs 4-2 and then winning the title over the Cavs 4-2, unless JoeD pulls off some of his typical magic and swings a big trade with his expiring contracts and young guns for a guy like Brand, Artest, Mike Miller, Corey Magette, etc, at which point I'll take the Lakers over the Pictons 4-3.

[crackjack]

Gasol makes Kukoc look like a little girl?

That's absolutely irrelevant in regards to this conversation.

Shaq makes Stockton look like a little girl, but who would you rather have running the point?

In case my earlier post was too confusing for you, I was basically criticizing the writer of the article for comparison THE SKILL SETS of Gasol and Kukoc. I wasn't comparing anything else between the two.

[EHL]

Why exactly can't Kukoc's skill sets be compared to Gasol's?

They:

1) Both played in the same system
2) Both coached by the same person
3) Both are tremendous outside shooters
4) Both are tremendous passers and ball handlers for their size
5) Both have tremendous basketball IQ
6) Both played with a dominant shooting guard
7) Both are white

Plenty of pertinent similarities. Not in terms of style, but big fugging deal.

[crackjack]

They're two different types of players. The writer obviously doesn't get that.

It's the same thing as if someone were to tell you that Bryant isn't a great player because he's never led the league in assists or rebounds.

[EHL]

Was the writer saying they were the exact same type of player? I think you missed his point. His point was their role on the Lakers, which can be very similar given their similar skill sets.

[crackjack]

That's exactly what I'm debating.

Like I said, I want to blindly believe as much as anyone that Gasol would be as good of a fit for the triangle as Kukoc. However, I'm a believer of logic, so I'll wait to see him play (more than one game).

Gasol is a pretty smart basketball player, but I don't think his basketball IQ is on par with Kukoc. I can't picture Gasol initiating the offense like Kukoc could. I also can't imagine Gasol knowing the cutting lanes like Kukoc did either. Plus, Gasol isn't going to be an outside threat like Kukoc was.

Gasol, however, is far superior to Kukoc in terms of low post scoring, shot blocking, and rebounding.

They're two different types of players. They're both going to fit in differently in the offense.

[Whateva]

Gasol played SF before going to the NBA, he used to hit a lot of three's in Europe,

[EHL]

^ I like Kukoc too, a lot, but it's not an insult to compare Gasol to him in terms of basketball IQ or how he'll operate in the triangle. Kukoc frequently played 18-20 out (which Gasol will certainly do at times) and made tremendously sharp and intelligent decisions with the basketball, to cutters or guys open on the perimeter or what have you.

And even when Kukoc was give the reigns to their offense after Pippen and Jordan left, he wasn't exactly racking up assists or shooting records, including from downtown.

[howard2]

From LA Times
2/6/08
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lak ... &cset=true

Kobe: Triangle Perfect For Gasol
A Great Start for Gasol

Kobe Bryant was very happy with the first performance of Pau Gasol in a Lakers' uniform.

"This offense is perfect because he can showcase his versatility as opposed to being in Memphis, where he just either hugs the post or goes out and sets a pick and rolls," Bryant said. "Here, he's asked to make plays and asked to make decisions with the basketball.

"Teams can't double that easily no more," Bryant said. "When I make a pass and he finishes a couple times, now teams are going to have to reevaluate that. They might have to play me single coverage a little bit more. . . . They just have to rethink their schemes."

---------
Plus more.

[crackjack]

I like Kukoc too, a lot, but it's not an insult to compare Gasol to him in terms of basketball IQ or how he'll operate in the triangle.

I now see where the confusion lies.

I'm not saying that Kukoc is better. I don't think it's an insult to compare Gasol to him.

I just think it's inaccurate to compare their skill sets (which is different than just the term "skills" alone).[/quote]