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vs. sonics -7 reb differential, 16 off. boards allowed

vs. clippers -5 reb differential, 9 off. boards allowed

vs suns -13 reb differential, 16 off. boards allowed

vs hawks + 6 reb differential, 13 off. boards allowed


outrebounded in 3 of the 4. over 13 offensive rebounds allowed in 3 of the 4. pau with 7, 5, 6, 3 boards in those games. hasn't cracked double digits since his first game with the lakers. lakers are missing bynum but its still something that needs to be worked on.

This is about the only part of Pau's game that I don't like. He's just not a very physical player.

An interesting anonymous quote from an NBA scout in Sports Illustrated's preview issue:

I get the impression that the Grizzilies want Pau Gasol to be something he isn't. He is not a tough guy, and he is not a physical presence. He's more of a finesse player who will get his share of rebounds because he happens to be tall.

Can't really argue this at all.

Which is why I'm hoping Andrew really embraces his role as a rebounder/defensive anchor when he comes back. Those are the two areas he can make the most contributions to our championship drive.

EDIT -- To be fair, it should be noted that Pau's playing out of the position at the moment. Guys like Shaq and Dwight Howard and Al Horford are going to be exceedingly tough matchups for a lanky, finesse player like Pau.

He's a finesse player. Not a banger. We already have Odom taking up the slack for rebounding anyway. When Bynum comes back, we'll have him too.

If or when Gasol's rebound cost us a game, I'll start to worry.

Sedale Threatt wrote:This is about the only part of Pau's game that I don't like. He's just not a very physical player.

An interesting anonymous quote from an NBA scout in Sports Illustrated's preview issue:

I get the impression that the Grizzilies want Pau Gasol to be something he isn't. He is not a tough guy, and he is not a physical presence. He's more of a finesse player who will get his share of rebounds because he happens to be tall.

Can't really argue this at all.

Which is why I'm hoping Andrew really embraces his role as a rebounder/defensive anchor when he comes back. Those are the two areas he can make the most contributions to our championship drive.

EDIT -- To be fair, it should be noted that Pau's playing out of the position at the moment. Guys like Shaq and Dwight Howard and Al Horford are going to be exceedingly tough matchups for a lanky, finesse player like Pau.

agreed with your edit, but josh powell was pushing him around in there too. don't want to make it about just pau though. the entire team isn't boxing out, including odom. lamar just happens to be really good at timing his jump/ using his reach.

Yeah, definitely don't like that about Pau's game. We used to get on Shaq for his rebounding numbers at times, but this guy takes the cake compared to Shaq in terms of effort on the boards. I don't know what it is, because he's a decent defender and arguably the best offensive big man in the game. It's the physicality with him that has me a bit worried. I don't know if that's softness or not.

I'm not sure if soft is the right term. He doesn't seem to mind contact when he's posting up, and I don't get the sense that he gets intimidated. He just doesn't like to get in the paint and mix it up on the glass. It's his nature, I suppose. Plus, being as long and lanky as he is, he doesn't really have the body to be a banger.

Fortunately, defensive rebounding just happens to be one of Bynum's biggest strengths. I anticipate he's going to be able to cover up for a lot of Pau's weakness in this area.

Sofa King wrote:He's a finesse player. Not a banger. We already have Odom taking up the slack for rebounding anyway. When Bynum comes back, we'll have him too.

he's not taking up the slack, thats why i created this. lakers are getting beat on the boards.

If or when Gasol's rebound cost us a game, I'll start to worry.

it already has. the hawks won the rebounds battle by 9 including 10 off. boards. al horford by himself grabbed 20 with 7 off. boards.

i'd like to see kobe get in there more while bynum is out. when the lakers get bynum back, odom or him are going to have to be in at all times.

dcash4 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

i'd like to see kobe get in there more while bynum is out.

Thats really a tough thing to ask from Kobe, because of his injured finger. If there is one thing that it changes about his game it is going after rebounds, thats pretty much the easiest way to re-injure it, and its hard for him to really completley grasp the rebounds. I have been seeing a lot of Kobe tapping rebounds, or just barley getting his fingers on it.

EHL wrote:Yeah, definitely don't like that about Pau's game. We used to get on Shaq for his rebounding numbers at times, but this guy takes the cake compared to Shaq in terms of effort on the boards. I don't know what it is, because he's a decent defender and arguably the best offensive big man in the game. It's the physicality with him that has me a bit worried. I don't know if that's softness or not.

I wouldn't call him the best but he's up there

Tesla wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Thats really a tough thing to ask from Kobe, because of his injured finger. If there is one thing that it changes about his game it is going after rebounds, thats pretty much the easiest way to re-injure it, and its hard for him to really completley grasp the rebounds. I have been seeing a lot of Kobe tapping rebounds, or just barley getting his fingers on it.

ha, i forgot about his finger. good point.

I'd rather watch pau with 5assist than with 10 boards.

bobobolas1 wrote:I'd rather watch pau with 5assist than with 10 boards.

why not both, seriously ?

...thats exactly wat i was thinkin bout gasol...his 22points and 3-4 assists are nice, but the 6-8 rebounds or so would be much better if it was 9-11...

and id MUCH RATHER watch gasol getting 22/10rebounds/3assists than 22/6rebounds/5assists

This is actually a great point that needs to be talked about. I think our offense has just been so great that we disregard the fact that we have been getting out rebounded. However, I just think that our efficiency offensively can get us by against most teams.

Pau is not a very physical guy on the boards. Odom is on the boards hard and with Bynum out he is easily our best rebounder. I'm not sure that there's a solution to this other than waiting for Bynum's return.

once bynum gets back the rebounding will be fine, we just need to hold out until then
i don't know what they can do to improve it

its all about the return of bynum. when we play yao ming or tim duncan, the inside rebounding will become a glaring area of improvement.

but more inside presence to battle up front, will be the key.

You can definitely counter some of it with playing Ronny and Lamar more together. Ronny brings a lot of activity on the defensive boards as well as contesting shots. Mbenga is well......

I just think that we could have got someone else with a little bit more coordination. What is PJ Brown doing??? I know it's too late to get him but is someone else gonna snag him?

i don't think ronny is the answer. he's not very good at helping the rebounding either. most of the time he's going for every block possible, leaving his man free to roam the boards.

the solution is boxout, I noticed almost every game nobody is boxouting their man they just want to get the rebound.

This has been the weakest part of our win streak, and resurgence since Gasol. It seems Gasol is not a natural rebounder, and the stats speak to that fact. Plus, since Kobe's injury, he has not been as tenacious on the boards, like he was when Bynum went down (which is probably a good thing given the injury)

This is EXACTLY what Bynum brings to this team. He is an excellent rebounder, and I am excited to shore up this weakness when he gets back.

By the way, our shotblocking and lane defense will improve when Bynum gets back. This, I hope and believe, is the missing ingredient this team needs to beat the rest of the west (and East).