Gasol or Bynum?

[Tricky Ricky]

Celtics fan here, I know theyre both great players but which would you rather have on your current roster Gasol or Bynum? What are the strengths and weaknesses in each players game?

Thanks

[stood-amire]

Check his IP! Maybe its Doc again

[Tricky Ricky]

Check his IP! Maybe its Doc again

LOLOLOL

[Dr Aki]

lakers love both because theyre both complimentary

gasol:
strengths: genuine 7-ft tall, good hands, great BBIQ, great unselfish passer, naturally understands the triangle, great footwork, can shoot the 16-ft midrange J with consistency, knows how to draw fouls, decent shot blocker, decent FT shooter
weaknesses: soft on man-to-man post defense, not physically imposing, tends verbal flop, loses sight of small guards stripping the ball from him from behind
overall: absolute perfect triangle big who can face-up opp PFs, but for (well documented) aforementioned weaknesses

bynum
strengths: genuine 7-ft, soft hands, athletic, can reach just about every ball thrown in general direction of the hoop for the alley-oop, great shot blocker, rebounding monster, physical presence in the paint, decent FT shooter, IS ONLY 20YO! was in the middle of a breakout season
weaknesses: still young, inexperienced, tends to get pushed around by stockier bigs, doesnt have a go-to post move yet, no real range outside 8-ft from the basket, 1 moderate knee injury to date
overall: classic back to the basket defensive center that gets all his pts off alley-oops and putbacks with no real range outside hook shot range, no go-to post-move and can put on more muscle

[Slava]

This question might have seemed legit an year ago but now we have the luxury of putting both of them together on the court. Why argue something that you don't have to decide on?

[snaquille oatmeal]

while Bynum is a better match up in terms of size for the center position, Gasol is the more experienced player. Gasol brings more versatility to the offense. offensibly Bynum was good at a few things, but Gasol is better at more things. defensebly Bynum was a moster by the time he got hurt and Gasol is average at best. so if I had to choose right now I would go with Gasol because of experience, offensive versatility and passing.

this was Bynums break out year and who knows how much better he would have been by now. Bynums number are very deceiving because he started the season slow, but his numbers kept getting better and better every game so it is not like was the same player in November that he was in Decenber or January. by the time he got hurt he was a lot better than when the Lakers played the Celtics. it is a hard choice.

[Tricky Ricky]

This question might have seemed legit an year ago but now we have the luxury of putting both of them together on the court. Why argue something that you don't have to decide on?

Im just asking because the Celtics have yet to play a Gasol Lakers team but have beaten a Bynum Lakers team and wondering what the differences in the game will be.

[Tricky Ricky]

thanks for the responses

[Slava]

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Im just asking because the Celtics have yet to play a Gasol Lakers team but have beaten a Bynum Lakers team and wondering what the differences in the game will be.

Oops I thought you were some phantom Laker fan!

Well, compared to Bynum, Pau is more savvy and makes a better passer and much versatile scorer. Bynum would have added more rebounding and shot blocking but Gasol adds greater experience and better presence on the breaks than Bynum.

[Tricky Ricky]

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Oops I thought you were some phantom Laker fan!

Well, compared to Bynum, Pau is more savvy and makes a better passer and much versatile scorer. Bynum would have added more rebounding and shot blocking but Gasol adds greater experience and better presence on the breaks than Bynum.

Lol no, Ya Ive always liked Gasol and doubt u guys could go wrong with either

[Dr Aki]

we would go wrong with bynum

seeing as perkins harassed him into being a nonfactor

i doubt we'd get to the finals without gasol

odom wouldnt have have exploded

kwame would still be killing our mojo

[MAMBAEMD]

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Im just asking because the Celtics have yet to play a Gasol Lakers team but have beaten a Bynum Lakers team and wondering what the differences in the game will be.

Do you really think the fact that C's beat the Lakers 5 months ago means anything?
Also when C's played the Lakers in Nov and Dec, Bynum had 2 of his worst games.

Kepp in mind, the Lakers are playing their best ball of the year.
The C's on the other hand....well you tell me.

That said, with Gasol, the Lakers will have a definite offensive advantage. They are just so much more versatile offensively with his post game and ability to hit the 15 footers. That means that either Perkins or KG will have to come out away from the basket to play Gasol.

It will be a war.

[Tommy Trojan]

This question might have seemed legit an year ago but now we have the luxury of putting both of them together on the court. Why argue something that you don't have to decide on?

[Gomes3PC]

Do you really think the fact that C's beat the Lakers 5 months ago means anything?
Also when C's played the Lakers in Nov and Dec, Bynum had 2 of his worst games.

Kepp in mind, the Lakers are playing their best ball of the year.
The C's on the other hand....well you tell me.

That said, with Gasol, the Lakers will have a definite offensive advantage. They are just so much more versatile offensively with his post game and ability to hit the 15 footers. That means that either Perkins or KG will have to come out away from the basket to play Gasol.

It will be a war.

You don't think the Celtics D had ANYTHING to do with Bynum having two of his worst games of the year? Of course not...it was just coincidence that he disappeared against the best defensive team in the NBA.

Honestly I think both Pau and Bynum are very good players and when on the court together and Odom playing SF, they could be a phenomenal frontcourt trio, certainly more talented than any in the NBA right now. But in this series, if the Celtics make this into a grind it out style that they have the first three series they've played, I think the Lakers will sorely miss the size and toughness Bynum brought. I think a big key will be whether Pau can make this a skill matchup in the paint vs. Perk, or if Perk can bully Gasol around like he did Bynum and Kwame.

And don't say Perk can't bully guys around. 18 and 16 against Rasheed and McDyess, two much tougher guys than Pau, says that when he gets rolling he can really hurt teams on BOTH ends.

[milesfides]

It's a close call right now, but I'd take Bynum because

1) defense
2) upside


It's remarkable how we've done so well without him, but that's a testament to Gasol, his contributions, and how he's changed our game.

Against the Celtics, things will be tough. With Bynum, I think we match up pretty well. Without him, it's a finesse/offense vs. physical/defense. We did fairly well against the Jazz and Spurs in this type of game, but Boozer and Manu were mostly no-shows.

Kendrick Perkins is a tough player. Seeing how smaller players like Horford or "soft" players like Okur pretty much bullied Gasol, I'll take my chances with Bynum in that type of game.

Sure, Bynum didn't play well against the Celtics, got frustrated by Perkins in the two games (both within a month), but I'd take my chances with Bynum figuring it out.

He's 7 foot, 280, and freshly turned 20 years old when he played against a physical, beefy player 3 years older. This season, Bynum had just begun to fill out, just started to connect his muscles to his nervous system, get his coordination in order. He still has some ways to go. But he also came a long way from that gangly mess he started from. That's why he has a lot of upside. But he has incredible reach, great hands, and good timing. The body is coming along, and I have no doubt that he'll continue to develop and translate his mass into applicable strength.

[Tricky Ricky]

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Do you really think the fact that C's beat the Lakers 5 months ago means anything?
Also when C's played the Lakers in Nov and Dec, Bynum had 2 of his worst games.

Kepp in mind, the Lakers are playing their best ball of the year.
The C's on the other hand....well you tell me.

That said, with Gasol, the Lakers will have a definite offensive advantage. They are just so much more versatile offensively with his post game and ability to hit the 15 footers. That means that either Perkins or KG will have to come out away from the basket to play Gasol.

It will be a war.

Like I said u had Bynum then you have Gasol now so it doesnt mean much.

I think Bynum having 2 of his worst games due to defense

You guys are playing incredible ball but I am also very happy with the ball the C's are playing the ATL series was a long time ago and I think it helped the Cs learn how to play playoff ball.

Like u said it will be a war, lets have fun!

[Erik Eleven]

That's simple. Both, of course. Like next season.

[magic#32]

I'd go with Gasol, not only about numbers or stats but simply the fact that we made the NBA finals beating the current champs 4-1 with Pau and we did never made further than 1st round with Bynum, yes i know he improved a lot this year but does anyone really think we would be here with him? Easy call.

[Mindflayer]

Bynum is our second best player. Our team defense is a whole lot better than 4 months ago.

[Lloyd Bonafied]

That's simple. Both, of course. Like next season.

^^^What he said!