I Think Gasol is Just Soft

[tkb]

9/18 for 21 points. yup, completely folded.

other than their attitude towards kobe and probably bynum, this fanbase is absolute crap when it comes to supporting the players on the team.

No kidding, and especially when it comes to Odom and Gasol. It's like no one watched what they did defensively to limit the scoring efficiency of the all star bigs we faced in the playoffs.

[daddyfivestar]

soft or not, I'll take the Pau of 27 rs games from last year ANYTIME
18.8 ppg
7.8 rpg
3.5 apg
1.6 bpg
59% fg
79% ft

People seem to forget it was a scant 15 months ago the Lakers were being first round fodder and now they have another legit option without having to trade Bynum.

[Throwback24]

Pau Gasol shed the soft label in the Olympics. Only if he could play like that in the NBA

[milesfides]

Pau had his moments, but I'm not sure how his play in the Olympics belies his soft label. The guy is not a tough banger, sorry.

He is a good shooter, a brilliant, crafty scorer. He is great in the international game. He's also great in the NBA.

But he's not a tough, strong player. He uses his reach, extension, footwork, and a soft touch to be effective.

I think the implications of the word "soft" can be offensive to many, and it's probably not the right word for Gasol, but the opposite certainly isn't true.

Anyways, I do consider him a bit soft, but he's still one of the best power forwards in the world, a great competitor, and a perfect fit in the triangle offense (offside forward) and on our particular team, especially with Kobe and Bynum.

[ChocolateThundr]

I think when people say soft, they mean mentally soft, which I dont think Pau is. He has strengths and weaknesses. Fans like to call him 'soft', but I bet more than half of NBA teams would LOVE to have Gasol on their teams.

[Throwback24]

As their #1 option on offense?

[Chubby Chaser]

you are EDIT so what is the point of this thread? I guess you had rather have Kwame Brown and that scrub Crittenton back.

LOL at your user name.. I'm not sure emplayed will find it funny.. but I think it's hillarious.

[ALL HAIL]

Soft to me means he avoids or does not like physical contact--he allows physical contact to affect his game. Soft also means not strong physically or not mentally willful, meaning not able to overcome his lack of brute strength with mental fortitude ie. Iverson or Rodman or Rondo (who does a lot of physical things w/o being very strong).

Gasol is soft under my definition. He's damn good, but he's soft. Stop fighting the notion and admit it. It's okay.

[LLcoleJ]

Soft to me means he avoids or does not like physical contact--he allows physical contact to affect his game. Soft also means not strong physically or not mentally willful, meaning not able to overcome his lack of brute strength with mental fortitude ie. Iverson or Rodman or Rondo (who does a lot of physical things w/o being very strong).

Gasol is soft under my definition. He's damn good, but he's soft. Stop fighting the notion and admit it. It's okay.

So, based on your defintion we should all admit it ? silly.

anyway--- re: this thread.

Look, this thread makes little to no sense if you ask me. Just because Gasol is not a physical speciman there is no need to take shots at him ( or any player ) just because. I can look at any player and see faults. I like all that Gasol brings to the table and if he is soft by someones defintion then , ok.

He is a great player and will play a huge part in us contending. He will also be freed up more if/when he plays the PF.

Lets look at the entire package Gasol brings to this team and I would say we are pretty damn lucky to have him.

[redoctober9]

A lot of people are quick to criticize Pau but they didnt even try to think that without Pau we would not have been in the June Party with the Boston Celtics. We could not destroy Melo, AI and the run and gun trigger happy Denver Nuggets, Without Pau We couldnt have contain Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and DeWills and the Hardnose Jazz in the 2nd round and without Pau T-D, Tony Park and the Spurs would have been KG's opponent in the finals and I bet they would zip the SPURS 4-0. What I'm trying to say here is that we Lakers FANATICS should be thankful that Pau is here and Pau is ready to form a dreaded 3 headed frontline monsters in him, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom which no other NBA teams can have or cope up. A starting 5 of FISH, KOBE, LO, PAU AND BYNUM is much better than the showtime 5 of MAGIC, SCOTT, WORTHY, AC/SAM PERKINS, KAREEM/DIVAC in the late 80's and early 90's. We are now a complete team. Barring any major illness on KOBE's pinkie then we are set for trainning camp. The signing of Josh Powell brings us something we lost in Ronny Turiaf then Sun Yue had shown us what he can do in the olympics and his length always reminds me of Tony Kukoc but with good ball handling skills. We just await if ALONZO MOURNING is ready to suit up and Mitch be ready to get him I rather had him than DJ MBENGA... Listen LAKERS FANATICS sit tight and relax be happy it would be a matter of time before we can feel the champaigne for us...And always remember Phil has still a lot of ZEN left in his books so trust our team and support it all the way GO LAKERS GO LAKERS!!!!!

[crazyeights]

Without Pau we miss the playoffs last year. It's that simple.

And for those of you that think he is soft...well good. If he was perfect then the Grizzly's never would have let him go.

[TruSkool]

i dono, but ive been a pau gasol fan ever since his short haired memphis grizzlies days....ive always liked pau gasol's game.
but yea, u cant really say hes soft, because he DOES bang with the centers and forwards, but his lower body is just weak...hes not a soft individual player, he just needs more muscle....

u may see him post his defender, turn around and hit a shot plus the foul, but you rarely see him pound his defender so deep into the post where he can throw it down on him..his lower body is weak for his size, hes not soft.

[Big Dee Chi-Born]

u may see him post his defender, turn around and hit a shot plus the foul, but you rarely see him pound his defender so deep into the post where he can throw it down on him..his lower body is weak for his size, hes not soft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO4PB4nZYBg