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http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-kobe-bryant-pau-gasol-unstoppable-duo-20130406,0,4027281.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=53297


Solid article IMO from Eric Pincus with the Latimes. Kobe has several intriguing comments here that seem to be in line with pretty much we've all been saying on this board.

"We're using him the right way," said Kobe Bryant of Gasol. "We're using his strengths in terms of his ability to facilitate and his ability to shoot the ball. Pau doesn't really even want to score the ball, really -- he likes getting other guys involved. We're putting him at the elbow. We're slipping him out on screens. When he has a shot he's taking it and when he doesn't, he's getting other guys involved and it's working very well for him."

While the numbers may not be the tell all on this topic. Over the last 5 games Pau has been avg 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and five assists while shooting 54.8% from the field. There's no denying in my opinion how Pau has looked ALOT better than he has per say the last 2 seasons. Mike D has finally allowed Pau to get back to his comfort spots on the court

The Gasol/Bryant two-man game has been a big part of that charge, especially offensively.

"You can't stop it. You can't guard it," said Bryant. "You just hope we miss. There's really no reasonable way you can defend that."

With Gasol setting the screen, Bryant can create a shot for himself or look to pass, including getting the ball back to Gasol, who can do the same.

I'll admit its been a really good sight to see Kobe and Pau finally back to running their 2 man game. We went to 3 straight finals when using that strategy. Pau has the best hands and is easily the best facilitating big in basketball still, and we got DH12 finishing and cleaning up around the rim. Make teams choose their poison when their playing us. Lets face it the pick n rolll offensive scheme isnt suited for this roster (well the PG/PF or even PG/C version isnt )

Now will this coach allow us to continue to slow the game down and pound the ball inside? I just think if we play to our strengths and keep this defensive energy we can compete with anybody. We seem ALOT better on the defensive end also (not trying to start up any argument lol)

leeprettyp wrote:http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-kobe-bryant-pau-gasol-unstoppable-duo-20130406,0,4027281.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=53297


Solid article IMO from Eric Pincus with the Latimes. Kobe has several intriguing comments here that seem to be in line with pretty much we've all been saying on this board.

"We're using him the right way," said Kobe Bryant of Gasol. "We're using his strengths in terms of his ability to facilitate and his ability to shoot the ball. Pau doesn't really even want to score the ball, really -- he likes getting other guys involved. We're putting him at the elbow. We're slipping him out on screens. When he has a shot he's taking it and when he doesn't, he's getting other guys involved and it's working very well for him."

While the numbers may not be the tell all on this topic. Over the last 5 games Pau has been avg 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and five assists while shooting 54.8% from the field. There's no denying in my opinion how Pau has looked ALOT better than he has per say the last 2 seasons. Mike D has finally allowed Pau to get back to his comfort spots on the court

The Gasol/Bryant two-man game has been a big part of that charge, especially offensively.

"You can't stop it. You can't guard it," said Bryant. "You just hope we miss. There's really no reasonable way you can defend that."

With Gasol setting the screen, Bryant can create a shot for himself or look to pass, including getting the ball back to Gasol, who can do the same.

I'll admit its been a really good sight to see Kobe and Pau finally back to running their 2 man game. We went to 3 straight finals when using that strategy. Pau has the best hands and is easily the best facilitating big in basketball still, and we got DH12 finishing and cleaning up around the rim. Make teams choose their poison when their playing us. Lets face it the pick n rolll offensive scheme isnt suited for this roster (well the PG/PF or even PG/C version isnt )

Now will this coach allow us to continue to slow the game down and pound the ball inside? I just think if we play to our strengths and keep this defensive energy we can compete with anybody. We seem ALOT better on the defensive end also (not trying to start up any argument lol)

It is definitely the best way to go on offense consistently. But I'm not sure how well this team can do with so many turnover prone players and poor outside shooting. They can never blow a team out. Clark, Blake, Meeks have to be hitting the jump shot consistently when it matters.

IamBBAnalysis wrote:

It is definitely the best way to go on offense consistently. But I'm not sure how well this team can do with so many turnover prone players and poor outside shooting. They can never blow a team out. Clark, Blake, Meeks have to be hitting the jump shot consistently when it matters.

The turnovers certainly hurt but you hit the nail square on the head when you mentioned our poor outside shooting. We get tons and tons of wide open looks beyond the arc and we just can't knock them down with enough regularity to open things up inside for Dwight and Pau. Dwight needs good court spacing to be ale to work one on one against his man and we haven't been able to consistently get him the spacing he needs to work all season.

I love what I've seen from Pau the past few games and if it's any indicator of things going forward he could prove to be an extremely valuable piece heading into the playoffs.

Kobe and Pau have always complimented each other perfectly. Get in the playoffs and I like our chances vs anybody in a 7 game series.

AcecardZ wrote:

IamBBAnalysis wrote:

It is definitely the best way to go on offense consistently. But I'm not sure how well this team can do with so many turnover prone players and poor outside shooting. They can never blow a team out. Clark, Blake, Meeks have to be hitting the jump shot consistently when it matters.

The turnovers certainly hurt but you hit the nail square on the head when you mentioned our poor outside shooting. We get tons and tons of wide open looks beyond the arc and we just can't knock them down with enough regularity to open things up inside for Dwight and Pau. Dwight needs good court spacing to be ale to work one on one against his man and we haven't been able to consistently get him the spacing he needs to work all season.

I love what I've seen from Pau the past few games and if it's any indicator of things going forward he could prove to be an extremely valuable piece heading into the playoffs.

Its crazy how wildly inconsistent we are from beyond arc. We are either red hot or ice cold (and around league average for the season).

Thats why I think the Lakers need to play a slow grind out game like the one in Memphis. If the game is low scoring, we'd be able to use our talent to win at the end. If our 3point shooting is on, we'd outscore teams quite easily in a half court setting.

His body is healthy for a change.

DEEP3CL wrote:His body is healthy for a change.

Yes exactly and on top of that they're using him in ways more suited to his game style.

I agree Ace, I've said all along that it was up to MDA to adjust to the players here not them adjusting to him and his system. Fact is he was blinded by the fact of having Nash at the controls, he thought his system would supersede everything. Looking back on it, he stripped Pau of every advantage that he had in helping us these last 5 seasons.

I still remember one quote he said when taking over, that "the post up is the least effective play in basketball". I was like WTF ? Are you kidding me ? This franchise has won titles using the post up, it's our DNA period. I was like MDA you better find a way to use our size or you won't be here long. Looks like he's adjusting but I sense he doesn't like it. Guess what ?........He better deal with it.

Hopefully Pau can keep it up, I think him knocking down those mid range jump shots consistently have been vital to his play recently. That's what allows the floor to be open enough for kobe to go to work and dwight the ability to get the high low passes.

Once he stops hitting those shots that's when it all goes to ****.

gotokyo wrote:Hopefully Pau can keep it up, I think him knocking down those mid range jump shots consistently have been vital to his play recently. That's what allows the floor to be open enough for kobe to go to work and dwight the ability to get the high low passes.

Once he stops hitting those shots that's when it all goes to ****.

Pau was quoted as saying his foot gets more sore as games wear on. Hopefully that will improve over the next few weeks. Assuming we're still playing in a few weeks.

The way we're playing I'd really like our chances to make the playoffs and actually have success once we get there if we were only healthy.

still Kobe and Pau's team but with an improved and better suited Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum.

DEEP3CL wrote:His body is healthy for a change.

This is what I was thinking too... I was listening to Dr. Clapper on the radio and he said Pau tearing his planters fascia is a good thing because it gives his foot a chance to fully heal. He said that the tear was like Pau having natural surgery and by healing it will correct his planters fasciitis. So hopefully he will have no more foot pain at all because his tendon was able to stretch during the healing process.

The tear was a freak accident that had nothing to do with his on going foot pain, but it can help solve the constant pain he played through all year.

DEEP3CL wrote:His body is healthy for a change.

This, it's the first time he's been healthy all year. Having said that, he's been more assertive and i'm thinking it's due to D'Antoni backing off his own system and allowing Kobe and Pau to simply run the offense they are more comfortable with.

last 6 games. i really hope he brings this form into the finals.

we really need post offense, not only for easy points but for slowing the game down and dwight certainly isnt going to provide it.

Aki wrote:last 6 games. i really hope he brings this form into the finals.

we really need post offense, not only for easy points but for slowing the game down and dwight certainly isnt going to provide it.

Dwight can get us post offense if we space the floor well enough so that he sees man to man coverage. When the paint's been packed Dwight has had a difficult time lately.

its a refreshing sight to see! when our offensive is clicking and efficient we score they take it out of bounds and we're set on defense ( no easy run outs ). we get scored on alot off missed kobe iso jumpers, the younger teams exploit this with a burst of speed after a miss = fast break. When kobe is out a nash and d12 should do some slip screens or pnr.