Pau Gasol struggles without Kobe

[leeprettyp]

22/64 = 34%

3 for 17 vs SAS last week
7 for 17 vs HOU
7 for 16 vs SAS gm 1
5 for 14 vs SAS gm 2


I love Pau and some of the blame has to go on Mike D for having him shoot so far from the basket. But lets be real here Pau began playing his best basketball in years because he was playing with Kobe Bryant getting all the attention (I'd even argue playing with Kobe helped elevate prime Pau Gasol to a top 10 player in basketball during our 3 final run 2008-2010). I still believe with the right coach and role players (Jordan Hill, Earl Clark, Blake) this core of Dwight, Kobe and Gasol can get it done. But maybe this recent scoring slump (for a big is really revealing to me) can help people appreciate what Bean brings to this team. People always question Kobe's leadership but what I see out there is a bunch of guys playing with no confidence and confused. In Nash case u could argue injuries have really slowed him down this year but in reality he isnt a starting playmaking PG on a championship team anymore. I just wish management wouldnt blow up this core and just got younger and athletic on the wing positions. Only bring back Metta if he agrees to opt out and comeback for around $2-4million. As much as I love Nash we need to get more defensive at the starting PG position and alot younger. A spot up 3 pt shooter and above avg defender is what we need at that position more than anything. But then again adding another legit playmaker would help big time also. Biggest reason being we dont know what kinda player Kobe will be whenever (if ever) he comes back next season. We just know whatever level he comes back as he busted his butt getting to.

[dockingsched]

i think without a doubt he's better with kobe, its only natural.

imo though i think pau is just missing the long jumpers he was making 2-3 weeks ago. he's getting the same shots, he's still being aggressive near the basket, his mid range jumper just isn't falling at the same clip, which should be expected.

i posted about this before when people were clamoring about pau finally being used right, which i do believe there's been a change in getting him in the post more, but to me the biggest change was him simply hitting his jumper. it allowed him to not only have better numbers but opened up the middle for a slashing dwight since people started running out to him more often. just gotta hit that jumper when he gets it.

[leeprettyp]

i think without a doubt he's better with kobe, its only natural.

imo though i think pau is just missing the long jumpers he was making 2-3 weeks ago. he's getting the same shots, he's still being aggressive near the basket, his mid range jumper just isn't falling at the same clip, which should be expected.

i posted about this before when people were clamoring about pau finally being used right, which i do believe there's been a change in getting him in the post more, but to me the biggest change was him simply hitting his jumper. it allowed him to not only have better numbers but opened up the middle for a slashing dwight since people started running out to him more often. just gotta hit that jumper when he gets it.

I agree 100% but to me those jumpers we're more in rythmn off of the pick n roll with Kobe. And when teams were forced to step out on him then he is SOOOOOO GOOD at passing he simply threw that lob to the rim to Dwight. That SG/PF to Center pick n roll is unguardable practically. The issue now is no other wing player is a threat to get into the paint and teams are pressuring the ball and forcing the pick n roll to start further out on the court and also forcing Pau to shoot further away from the basket. The roster is flawed big time but the pieces arent being using correctly also. Its alot of wrong right now. Riding Kobe into the ground was the biggest issue IMO.

[Kilroy]

When Kobe goes down, Pau immediately goes from being the 3rd to the second facilitator on the floor.
The pressure goes way up. He's still playing well, but the game just gets so much harder without Kobe.

Dwight's playing a little better, but other than that, it looks like everyone is tightening up a bit.

I'm still impressed with how we've come together, but when you play a team like San Antonio, it just becomes glaringly obvious that our starting lineup aren't all starting caliber and everyone outside of a 7 or 8 man rotation belongs in the D-League on this team.

[Michael Lucky]

There's not much he can do about it either because they are running the offense through him so he's getting all the double teams. A big needs some wing player to alleviate those double teams. Right now we really don't have any that are shooting efficiently so there's no reason to give Pau any space. Doesn't help either that Duncan is one of those guys guarding him who's a supremely good defender.

[leeprettyp]

Thats a fair assessment right there Michael Lucky... But like Doc was saying Pau is getting good looks out there.

[DEEP3CL]

IDK....if I were 7 feet I wouldn't depend on a jumper all that much. But that's just me.

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[Doormatt]

IDK....if I were 7 feet I wouldn't depend on a jumper all that much. But that's just me.

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its the way modern basketball is played now, with the pick n roll being so effective and so widespread. big men that can space the floor and draw defenders out of the paint with just a respectable jumper are much more valuable offensively than guys who just sit on the block and try to score down low, unless they are extremely good at it (like say bynum when hes healthy). and if you have someone like bynum or dwight, then you NEED the big that can spread the floor, or nothing but knockdown perimeter shooters.

[moonpie]

Pau used to have a fresh snow from the outside midrange jumper, what happened to that?

[kblo247]

And water is wet ... Same guy who never won a playoff game without Kobe, still hasn't ....
He dropped to 46% last year and Andrew 42% when Kobe was out.

[Luxury]

Everyone ^ hit the spot, and to add on

Kobe usually gives Pau a couple of those easy buckets near the rim or simply demanded him to stay near the paint. Those easy buckets really got him going. Suddenly his outside shots start hitting more consistently, then you see him being aggressive and making good plays.

In the last two playoff games though, the guy is getting open looks, but you don't want him taking 15 shots per game from that range. Maybe like 5 of them to keep the defense honest.

[AcecardZ]

There's no question Pau isn't the same player he once was. In his prime he was a remarkable player and helped get our beloved Lakers to three NBA finals. For that I will always love Pau! But now? It's time to move on if we want to hope to be competitive again before Kobe has to retire. There's no way we can pay him $20 million and make the adjustments our team needs to be competitive going forward.

Our team needs to make a huge shift towards getting younger if we're to compete going forward. Until proven otherwise I have little doubt that Kobe is still going to be a very solid asset for our team next year. Kobe and a healthy Dwight Howard is a very solid core to build around. Pau, Nash, Ron Ron absolutely cannot be part of that core if we're to be a competitive team. At absolute best they're role players. They're too old and lack the athleticism necessary to help a team compete in today's NBA. If we head into next season with those three still on our team we can pretty much rule out being competitive from the very start. The problems that plagued our team all year long will only be more prevalent next year with those three being a year older and slower.

If Anton, Blake, Hill and Clark return that should be fine but unless we find some perimeter speed and shooting to accompany Dwight and Kobe next season is going to be a painfully long one.

[kblo247]

Everyone ^ hit the spot, and to add on

Kobe usually gives Pau a couple of those easy buckets near the rim or simply demanded him to stay near the paint. Those easy buckets really got him going. Suddenly his outside shots start hitting more consistently, then you see him being aggressive and making good plays.

In the last two playoff games though, the guy is getting open looks, but you don't want him taking 15 shots per game from that range. Maybe like 5 of them to keep the defense honest.

Yep Pau is best working his way in then out. Kobe got him a layup or hook or two to start. THen that becomes him taking a mid without hesitating and its a trickle effect.

He's far from a guy like Kobe who can take 20 shots miss them, and then say hey that will fall. It's not his mental makeup

[Tee212]

the kobe factor will continue to pile up, when kobe went down and we won games without him all the ppl/haters are already saying the lakers are better off without kobe....well duh cause of a recent 2 game sample? oh please! lakers are still a decent team without him but lets not forget were playing the spurs! hopefully we can get some momentum back at home. we might win 1-2 games but lets face it with no kobe guys like manu/bench players can have a day off on perimeter defense giving them heaps of energy for run outs. kobe would use to tire them out or put them on foul trouble. the inside out game dont work when d12 misses ft's or the guards cannot knock down open shots, this is when you need a superior wing player to take over.

[kblo247]

Paus career so far 0-14 in playoff games without Kobe ... **** me maybe he's overrated of he can't get one like most guys paid his level

[Jakay]

Let's see... let's say I'm Greg Popovich...

What player on the Lakers is most likely to be the biggest X factor game in game out? And now I'm going to game plan against that player, because I can, because I don't have to plan on stopping Kobe every trip down the floor.

You list the 7 for 16 game as though his 16 rebounds and 6 assists WHICH WAS AS MANY AS BOTH STEVES HAD COMBINED don't count for anything. Cause any old player can put up 16 boards and 6 assists WITH 16 POINTS.

[Pb]

Well, to be honest, he struggles without a decent outside player able to hit the three consitently, or create for the team. Kobe never elevated Gasol´s game, thats a myth, the best Gasol played for the Grizz, not for L.A. And please don´t go with the 14-0 in playoffs, just check that team and the opponents, plus how some of his teammates lose by themselves some of these matches... Gasol is not, never was, better that TD, KG or Dirk, but outside these three has been the best Big in the NBA during the last 10 years. Let´s wait for the next game, and see what the team can do at home.

[leeprettyp]

Well, to be honest, he struggles without a decent outside player able to hit the three consitently, or create for the team. Kobe never elevated Gasol´s game, thats a myth, the best Gasol played for the Grizz, not for L.A. And please don´t go with the 14-0 in playoffs, just check that team and the opponents, plus how some of his teammates lose by themselves some of these matches... Gasol is not, never was, better that TD, KG or Dirk, but outside these three has been the best Big in the NBA during the last 10 years. Let´s wait for the next game, and see what the team can do at home.

Kobe never elevated Pau's game? He never won a playoff game until he came here and played with Kobe and Phil. I'm never gonna discredit his significance to coming here and contributing to 2 rings but lets not get carried away here. Was Pau ever considered a top 10 player in basketball prior to coming here? After being traded here there was a time that he easily could be argued in that group during the finals run. Pau is best as the 2nd option on a contending team. Defenses cant key in on him.

Btw I'm in no way trying to depict Gasol game likes he's trash because thats far from the case but just pointing out how important it is that Kobe is out there with him

[dockingsched]

personally not a fan of the whole "never won a playoff game" stuff. its equally as meaningless as pointing out that kobe couldn't get out of the 1st round without shaq or pau.

[leeprettyp]

We only played the team that made the WCF both years. And should've beaten them if it wasnt for the brain-fart Kwame Brown had by jumping past Tim Thomas when only a 3 pointer could hurt us lol. But to not win a single game in playoffs is revealing to me Doc. D. Wade said it best years ago when he said, " A superstar should win you a game or 2 in a series by themselves." Putting a team on your back when needed is why their paid the big bux. Thats one of the bigger reasons I've never been as hard on prime Tracy Mcgrady as others. He single handily won games during the playoffs in Orlando...Houston (is another argument because he did have help on that roster). Thats just me I know others may not hold credience to that like I do.