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Gasol just doesn't look slow and unathletic, he IS SLOW AND UNATHLETIC. He can't leap and block shots, doesn't dive for lose balls etc etc
compared to last years Javale McGee whose head can almost touch the rim when he jumps, this guy would be lucky to have an inch of vertical leap. He looks damn fat compared the chiseled Dwight and doesn't growl at everything like Garnett.
but before we go on and on who how bad this guy is, let's examine some Stats.
Marc Leads the team in DBPM (defensive plus/minus for those too lazy to know) at +2.6,
ranked 2nd in DRTG (Defenive Rating for those too ignorant) at 102 Next to AD (in case some think this stat is misleading)
[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2021.html][/url]
ESPN didn't like those stats bec having great defensive minded teammates can mask and mislead a player's impact so they invented RPM/DRPM etc.
http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/9
Well Marc ranked 21st among 80 centers with Capela and Gobert being in the top 4.
But but Lakers sucks on defense right now bec they don't have real RIM PROTECTORS.
Lakers ranks FIRST ON DRTG at 104.5 pts/100,
Ranks first on opponents FT/FGA rate, 4th in opponents EFG%.
Yes, I know these stats don't make sense bec the eye test suggest the opposite but it's not teams are getting lay up drills while he is on the court. btw Opponents are also taking 35% of their shots from the 3pt area, ranked 25th in the league for that.

I just know we have the number 1 defense in the league and the Raptors have fallen off a cliff despite adding Baynes. I see Mark out there playing physical, using his size, protecting the rim, defending the perimeter, pumping up teammates and trash talking opponents. Playing with real intensity. He's been huge for us. Every team wants role players, but fans complain when they play their role and don't score. Mark might have lost a little speed, but he knows where to be when he gets there.

I posted about this in the GB today...

The block numbers are impressive, with us being 2nd in blocks and Gasol being 11th per36... But, We're a bottom dweller in defending points in the paint... Some of that is on Marc but he only plays a little over 15min a game...

We know Bron ain't playing post D at this stage of the season... Ad is sleepwalking, but he's still putting up monster offensive and Defensive stats... So it really comes down to Trez and to a lesser extent Kuz...

Come playoff time, you have to figure AD's going to be playing a lot more C, and Marc's probably going to be getting a lot fewer minutes... So between AD, Trez, LeBron and Kuz, we're going to have to get more physical in the paint...

But I think we need to stop pointing fingers at Marc... He may not look like a world beater, but he's doing exactly what we're asking of him, and he seems to be gelling nicely with the team... I was worried about his chemistry with the core but I was getting a kick out of him, Schroder (who I was also worried about), Dudley, and Caruso joking around on the sidelines last night...

Winning masks the inefficiencies. Once the losing starts, then I'm sure management will take a closer look at the C position. Buyout market is going to be important as well.

Appreciating Gasol's game is like the litmus test of whether you're a casual or not.

I'm not entirely happy with how we're using Marc on offense... He's way to skilled to be just a big roadblock in the paint... Frank said he didn't really want him focusing on offense, but rather to be focus on defense in the paint, but that basically removes most of what makes Marc a unique talent and still successful at this stage in his career.
He can defend in the paint but the thing that makes him great is his versatility on offense. There were several plays last night where he had gotten wide open inside the freethrow line and was calling for the ball, but Schroder looked him off. That's money range for Marc and even if we don't want him taking those shots (2 of the times the possession ended with contested missed 3s), you have to let him eat if it's just sitting there for him.

Kilroy wrote:I'm not entirely happy with how we're using Marc on offense... He's way to skilled to be just a big roadblock in the paint... Frank said he didn't really want him focusing on offense, but rather to be focus on defense in the paint, but that basically removes most of what makes Marc a unique talent and still successful at this stage in his career.
He can defend in the paint but the thing that makes him great is his versatility on offense. There were several plays last night where he had gotten wide open inside the freethrow line and was calling for the ball, but Schroder looked him off. That's money range for Marc and even if we don't want him taking those shots (2 of the times the possession ended with contested missed 3s), you have to let him eat if it's just sitting there for him.

It’s a valid point. Marc is a much better passer than Schroder and should facilitate more. His body is wide enough to give solid screens too to players like AD and Kuzma if needed too