RealGM

How many points do you think Gasol can average as a Laker? I believe he averaged 18 ppg in memphis, do u guys think his point total will go up higher or will drop a little?

without Bynum: Gasol 20 PPG, Kobe drops to 25PPG, Odom drops to 10PPG

with Bynum: Gasol 15PPG, Kobe 25PPG, Odom (who cares )


basically I feel that he will totally replace Odom's "2nd-option" scoring

I was reading an article about Odom that he does not mind if he is the Lakers 3rd, 4th or 5th option. He actually prefers being 3rd or 4th option on this team. He feels he does not need to do any scoring to help this team now since we got Gasol, he can do all the other stuff that this team needs him to do to win.

Now that

This is a very interesting question.

Aside from the obvious complexities of the triangle, other factors to consider here are (1) Gasol's willingness to play team basketball, and (2) the deadly shooting of our perimeter players of late.

(1) Gasol is by no means a volume scorer. I don't expect to force the issue offensively, and with his tremendous passing ability I expect him rack up somewhere in the range of 5 assists per game.

(2) Our perimiter shooters (namely Farmar and The Machine, add to that Vlad if he can turn his last performance into a continuing groove) having playing extremely well. Shooting the ball tremendously when open and swinging the ball around the horn when closed out on.

These two factors, among potentially many others, make it very difficult for me to predict Gasol's scoring output. Certainly, if teams play him straight up, he likely averages b/w 18-22ppg, but if they double him I look for his assists to increase sharply and his points to take a significant dip to a range of 14-18ppg.

Mind you, this is all assuming we are considering his output when this team is at full strenght, i.e. after Bynum returns.

Sans Bynum, I look for Gasol to GO OFF!!! I cant wait guys...this is going to be fun!

Seriously though, I expect after the first 1-2 weeks he will begin to put up at least 20-22ppg. If not its only b/c he is getting doubled, in which case Kobe averages 30ppg and 8assists!

Strap on the seatbelts fellas. Its GO-TIME in Lakerland!!!!

I really don't care what he puts up as long as our score is bigger than the other team's score. but here is mine.

Bynum 14/10/4
Gasol 17/9/4
Odom 14/7/5
Bryant 25/6/7
Fisher 13/3/4

All I want to see is Ws , a banner in the Staple center thats says Tony Montana is a pimp and ring .

I agree with FWF; I was thinking along the lines of 15-18 ppg, with a shooting percentage in the mid 50s and a decent amount of assists.

Having never watched Pau long or closely enough to really analyze his game, I'm anxious to see if he's as good a fit in the triangle as some seem to think he will be.

In particular, is his jump shot something that can be consistently counted on, a la Horace Grant, or is it merely an accent to his overall game, a la Tim Duncan?