Calling Out Gasol's Low Post Defense

Erik Eleven · Post #1 » by **Erik Eleven** » Thu May 21, 2009 4:12 pm

Who else has noticed how he stands still down there, lets bigs and smalls run around him and then reaches in lazily from behind for the block attempt, something which almost always fails? It happens on pretty much every attack to the rim when Gasol is in the game.

I've been outraged over this lack of defensive will from him down low all season long, but I thought it had to do with him staying out of foul trouble and staying healthy while Andrew was out, so I never said anything about it here before. It's bothered me all season, but this is the playoffs, excuse time is over.

We're talking uncontested dunks! It's the playoffs, and all players who attempt a dunk or layup should either be knocked on their ass, blocked extremely hard or wrapped up for the foul to prevent the shot attempt. No easy buckets allowed, period. Again, it's the playoffs — every possession counts like the last.

Until Gasol starts playing defense like a true big man in the post, I'm going to predict for the record that we won't win the Championship. Our biggest detriment is still our inability to execute the post entry pass, kick-out and re-post, and off-the ball movement, but our low-post free pass Spanish Yield defense is nothing short of embarrassing.

Check the sack, Pau. ¿Donde esta el Fuego?

Sedale Threatt · Post #2 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Thu May 21, 2009 4:19 pm

I think he's generally pretty decent straight up. He's going to have his moments where he gets punked, but overall he could be a lot worse.

As a team defender, though, you're pretty spot on. He just doesn't make much of an impact in this area. Don't know if it's lack of effort or the fact that he's not a very good athlete in terms of jumping and reaction, but it's very probably the weakest part of our game.

You should know by now from watching him for nearly two seasons that he simply doesn't have the mentality the lay somebody on their ass. It's just not the way he is, either as a basketball player or a person.

Drew, on the other hand, will definitely lay somebody out -- not necessarily to send a message, but because he's also usually a step slow. Certainly, he and Pau aren't going to be confused for Tim Duncan/David Robinson any time soon.

Sofa King · Post #3 » by **Sofa King** » Thu May 21, 2009 4:31 pm

I think Gasol is scared of their tattoos. He doesn't want to touch them.

Post #4 » by **Kilroy** » Thu May 21, 2009 4:50 pm

I agree on every point...

And I have my doubts that we can ever win a championship if Gasol plays center for us for anything more than spot minutes...

If Bynum can step up and be effective on both ends of the floor and Gasol can slide over to PF, I think we have an excellent shot at winning it all and maybe even Dynasty status. But Bynum isn't showing me that.

Neither one of them are contesting shots, neither one of them are fighting for position for Rebounds, neither one of them are playing solid man D against anyone. Our front line is about as weak as it was with Kwame, and maybe weaker, even with both of them on the floor.

I think it comes down to this... If Bynum isn't a Double-Double threat at any time during the remainder of the playoffs, we have a very slim chance of winning it all... And if Gasol doesn't average a double-double for us here on out, it means that Kobe is carrying the load and our chances look even worse.

If neither of those things happen, I think it's time to take a hard look at the Bynum experiment this off-season. And if we can't upgrade for a true center, it might be time to rethink Gasol as well.

Bynum or Gasol for Boozer? Tyson Chandler?

TruSkool · Post #5 » by **TruSkool** » Thu May 21, 2009 5:11 pm

gasol's D is a bit below average for a big man....but i admit, he gets the best of his opponents on defense during crunch time...

TonyMontana · Post #6 » by **TonyMontana** » Thu May 21, 2009 5:43 pm

Like I said its THE PRETTY BOYS OF BEVERLY HILLS vs DENVER INK.
Pau needs to check his welboz and go El Loco on Nene and Lip tatt boy.

microfib4thewin · Post #7 » by **microfib4thewin** » Thu May 21, 2009 7:28 pm

I said this a long time ago, but everyone else keeps ranting on how Gasol is an underrated defender I don't bother mentioning this anymore.

Throwback24 · Post #8 » by **Throwback24** » Thu May 21, 2009 7:35 pm

It's as if he's afraid of getting into the offensive players body, he lets whoever he's guarding always get deep post position and doesn't pose the slightest struggle.

Tee212 · Post #9 » by **Tee212** » Thu May 21, 2009 7:55 pm

At this point in his career he is what he is. Thats his package as a player, he plays avg defense at best...would you trade off his avg 73 ft% to the likes of 50% for superior defense ala dwight howard or shaq?

Sedale Threatt · Post #10 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:09 pm

microfib4thewin wrote:I said this a long time ago, but everyone else keeps ranting on how Gasol is an underrated defender I don't bother mentioning this anymore.

I think he is underrated -- as an individual defender. Not great, but better than most give him credit for. As a team defender -- blocking shots, covering the P/R and helping out -- he's sub-par.

LAKESHOW · Post #11 » by **LAKESHOW** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:16 pm

yeah some of its on him, but cmon, PHIL JACKSON DOES NOT PRACTICE DEFENSE! AT ALL!!

its hard for guys to know where to go, if your coach doesnt coach it.

and that is a fact. you have got to go over those area of rotation, weakside rotations, defensive schematics. but these are things that we REPEATEDLY get beat on. and so i believe some resides on pau, but we flat out do not teach it.

slifersd · Post #12 » by **slifersd** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:35 pm

Pau Gasol could very well be the worst low post defender in this playoffs. It was one thing that he allowed Carlos Boozer to push him around in the first round. It was ok since Boozer is an all star level player fighting for a contract, I get it. Then comes the second round, against Chuck Hayes, Luis Scola and Carl Landry, three guys who at best are starters and nothing more, he still got his butt whooped. I mean, he is going up against guys who are 4 inches shorter and not nearly as athletic, and he is still allowing them to score down low. Scola flat out scored in his face whenever he felt like it. That kind of defense is just unacceptable. As far as helping defense is concerned, there is only one thing I can say about that, what help defense? For a seven footer with long arms, he protect the basket as well as Fisher. No shot blocks, no boxing out, soft silly fouls and shrugging his shoulders when he got scored on is about all the help defense he has played so far in the playoffs.

Personally, I think there is no chance of us winning a championship or become as good a team as we can be without Bynum getting a ton of minutes at center. Sure, he is not playing at 100% and has his problems on offense, but the one thing I did notice whenever he is playing is that we protect the basket so much better. His length, athleticism and instincts on blocks and rebounds puts the opposing players in fear. With him inside, they did not dare to drive in and attempt lay ups whenever they wanted like they did Gasol. This is especially important in this series, as Lamar Odom simply doesn't have the skills to score over Kenyon Martin. Without his scoring, Odom's inability to protect the basket in the form of shot blocking, rebounding and boxing out became more problematic. In short, if we want to win this serie, Bynum has to play more.

Polvoron · Post #13 » by **Polvoron** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:44 pm

Kilroy wrote:
Bynum or Gasol for Boozer? Tyson Chandler?

Boozer is a worse defender than Bynum or Gasol, so looking to improve your D trading for Carlos Boozer is just absurd.

Polvoron · Post #14 » by **Polvoron** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:46 pm

slifersd wrote: His length, athleticism and instincts on blocks and rebounds puts the opposing players in fear.

Are you watching the games?
Andrew Bynum putting the opposing players in fear? :lol:

slifersd · Post #15 » by **slifersd** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:57 pm

Polvoron wrote:
slifersd wrote: His length, athleticism and instincts on blocks and rebounds puts the opposing players in fear.

Are you watching the games?
Andrew Bynum putting the opposing players in fear?

Well, perhaps not in fear, but it at least bothers them. When Bynum's in the game, guards at least look to pass the ball out rather than putting thier heads down and drive all the way as they do against Gasol.

Verbal · Post #16 » by **Verbal** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:18 pm

PS-

Look, if he lays anyone out himself he wouldn't be the boss.

I'll revisit this topic sometime, ttyl.

DEEP3CL · Post #17 » by **DEEP3CL** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:29 pm

Man EE I feel your pain...I've been on this cat about that for the longest. I don't even want to make a long post about it cause all it'll do is piss me off more.

KObe Bryant · Post #18 » by **KObe Bryant** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:07 pm

As well as in the offensive end. He easily gets overpowered and looses the ball.

Verbal · Post #19 » by **Verbal** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:25 pm

The good thing about this situation is that it's Pau Gasol.

He's a smart and competent guy who can overcome this kinda adversity.

If I didn't believe in his ability I wouldn't have endorsed him for the gig before mitch had him on his radar.

If Coach Jackson wants to bring Bynum in and place Pau at the 4 (against K-Mart), then things gon be different, aite?

Bynum has to man up and stop caring about what denver peps think about him and just unleash what he knows he can do on the court.

Kobe might have to babysit his ass for a while but it'll be worth it.

Just throw it up, and make the young fella getupandgetit.

I'm about to lose my mind again b/c I think I care more about this than the ppl in charge again. (relapse of me vs mitch/buss-wagon, among other adventures)

Anklebreaker702 · Post #20 » by **Anklebreaker702** » Fri May 22, 2009 4:17 pm

EE you get all props from me. I've been speaking of his softness all season long. Not surprisingly though I knew posters in this topic would turn the focus to Andrew Bynum. I cant remember who said Andrew has been an intimadator in the post & someone laughes at him but he was accurate. When Drew goes out they go 2 the basket with no respect. He quite possibly saved Game 1. After he crashed Melo he never scored again. It's funny how some players get ridden into the ground & Pau gets pass after pass after pass.

Where has the Pau from Game 7 of the Houston series been? Usually when players have a monster close out game it carries over. Like I stated in another thread some of this is on the Zen Blunder. Even when Pau is playing well. He keeps snatching Drew out of the game & Pau isn't getting any rest. At least give Mbenga some minutes.