Gasol's presence helps to fill a huge void for Lakers

timebandit · Post #1 » by **timebandit** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 4:20 am

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... ull.column

Center Pau Gasol, out of the Lakers' lineup for nine games after spraining his left ankle, said he wanted to play enough in his return Wednesday to get back into a routine.

After allowing Portland to score 31 points and make six of 12 three-point shots in the first quarter, the Lakers retrenched defensively and handled the ball more surely, reducing their turnovers from seven in the first quarter to one in the second quarter.

But not until they held the Trail Blazers to 13 points in the third and rode Kobe Bryant's 14-point final quarter were they assured of extending their Pacific Division lead over Phoenix to a game and staying 1 1/2 games behind New Orleans for the top seeding in the Western Conference.

*Lets keep it to a three paragraph quote please*

-Kno

CITYOFANGELSX3 · Post #2 » by **CITYOFANGELSX3** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 4:46 am

Clearly the lakers are a different team when they have a legit 7 footer in the paint. But what will happen with 2 7 footers?? Hmm..

Sofa King · Post #3 » by **Sofa King** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 5:02 am

I'm happy we got one of our centers back thats actually a center.

Tommy Trojan · Post #4 » by **Tommy Trojan** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 6:00 am

speaking of 7 footers how many do we have?

Bynum, Pau, DJ, Mihm, Ronny

I don't think I have seen a team have 5 seven footers on their team

UThinkUrSoGood · Post #5 » by **UThinkUrSoGood** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 6:06 am

Tommy Trojan wrote:speaking of 7 footers how many do we have?

Bynum, Pau, DJ, Mihm, Ronny

I don't think I have seen a team have 5 seven footers on their team

Ronny is only 6'10, that's shorter than Odom at 6'11. DJ and Mihm were our only true 7 footers during this period of the Gasol Injury. I'm surprised we didn't drop more games than we did.

ShowtimeFan · Post #6 » by **ShowtimeFan** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 5:09 pm

Sofa King wrote:I'm happy we got one of our centers back thats actually a center.

Pau was a PF for years, not a true Center, I can't wait to see him and Bynumm together though...

hermes · Post #7 » by **hermes** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 5:19 pm

i'm glad pau is back, now we just need everyone to get back and we'll be in great shape

Dexmor · Post #8 » by **Dexmor** » Sat Apr 5, 2008 6:59 pm

Gasol is a pf and will play that when Bynum comes back. If he were to play center he would have bigger guys then him thick wise who's only job would be to bang him up. He would get hurt and that is why when Bynum comes back he will play pf.

Rox_Nix_Nox · Post #9 » by **Rox_Nix_Nox** » Sat Apr 5, 2008 10:50 pm

Just his presence out there gives the team some extra confidence.

islander009 · Post #10 » by **islander009** » Sun Apr 6, 2008 5:21 am

Great to have Pau back in the lineup, it really does make a difference. Without him and Bynum defenses have just been staying in the paint preventing anything which resulted to too many jump shots. defenses didnt care about Ronny, vlad, or mbenga because they are either unable to produce offensively or dont require doubles. Pau helps open the court because defenders have to pay attention to him and therefor they cannot stop both Kobe and Pau. But when Bynum gets back it should make things even more interesting. Cannot wait. Playoffs here we come!!!