Pau Gasol wants to play for Spain in Euros

[dockingsched]

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/n ... id=6618365

MADRID -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol says he wants to play for Spain at this summer's European Championship.

Gasol confirmed his availability for the defending champions on Wednesday after missing last year's world championship in Turkey, where Spain finished sixth.

According to the Spanish basketball federation's website, Gasol says that "if the coach feels he can count on me then I want to help the team win another European" title.

Gasol helped Spain to a 2006 world title and a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.

The decision comes after the Dallas Mavericks swept Gasol's Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA playoffs.

The Euros will be played in Lithuania from Aug. 31 to Sept. 18.

this was the topic on mason and ireland on my drive home.

on one side, gasol said he collapsed, so why go play more competitive bball. on the other hand its only 3 weeks after months of rest, and probably months before the start of the season with an impending lockout. i'm leaning towards the no big deal, but he better not get hurt.

[iamworthy]

As long as he doesnt get injured im ok with this.

[chefy]

^ yep

as long as he would have enough time to prepare and rest for next season then yea


pretty sutpid though hes saying he "collapsed" in this years playoffs, and now hes talking about filling up his off season schedule again.

[MoLakers]

hey maybe he can regain that confidence he had thru the first part of the season. as long as he avoids injury.. what a privilege to play for your country!

[NOODLESTYLE]

The Top 2 teams also get automatic bids for the 2012 Olympics.

[Jetset]

If I remember correctly in 09 Gasol played for Spain and got injured, and well you already know what happened afterwards. We went on to win the title.



I really don't have a problem with this seeing as we'll probably have a late start to the season anyway. And hopefully in the offseason Mitch will do something about the depth issue this team has, so Gasol wont have to play those extended minutes. The lack of depth we have should be criticized not Gasol wanting to play for his home country.

[NOODLESTYLE]

If I remember correctly in 09 Gasol played for Spain and got injured, and well you already know what happened afterwards. We went on to win the title.

Ya Gasol got injured in the pre-season.

http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/l ... wsid=38014

Pau Gasol and the Los Angeles Lakers are breathing a sigh of relief after the confirmation by doctors that the Spain star doesn’t have a serious hamstring injury.

After having his left leg examined, the Lakers released a statement that said: "Results of an ultrasound test and an MRI show that Gasol has a mild-to-moderate strain of the left hamstring."

Gasol is listed as doubtful for the game against Houston on Tuesday night.

In September, Gasol led Spain to the gold medal at the EuroBasket in Poland and he was voted MVP of the tournament.

The seven-footer then injured his hamstring in the pre-season and missed the first 11 games of the campaign.

In the 2006 World Championships that Spain won, Pau injured his foot and couldn't play the final game.

http://www.latinosportslegends.com/2006 ... 110106.htm

November 1, 2006 -- Spaniard, Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies will miss the season opener against the New York Knicks because of a broken left foot that occurred while playing at the FIBA world championships this summer.

“I knew I fractured my foot, and I knew I was going to be out for a while,” said Gasol who played for Spain at the world championships.

Gasol underwent successful surgery at the Campbell Clinic to repair a broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot.

The 7 foot all-star, missed all of training camp as well as preseason play, and is still in the rehabilitation process.

Coach Mike Fratello said he was unsure when Gasol would rejoin the team, and when he does, how long it would take to get him in shape to play.
Gasol, averaged 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds last season and was named to play in his first NBA All-Star game.

[Anklebreaker702]

Not cool with this. Didn't he say he tanked out or was gassed once the playoffs came? Go sit your a** down somewhere

[Slava]

Let him play and sit him down for the pre-season if there is one. 3 weeks are not going to kill him, especially if he plays alongside his brother. If he regains his confidence out of company time, its better for us.

Even if he does pick up a minor knock its just time someone else lifted Pau's load for a month.

Also let him tap up Rubio and Marc for us.

[H00PDREAMS]

Just about every NBA player who played in FIBA or the Olympics has resulted in better play once back in the NBA.

So I am all for it. Any player playing for his country gets Props in my book. Viva La Espana!

[doozyj]

Not cool, we just got swept in the 2nd round.

[Anklebreaker702]

Not cool, we just got swept in the 2nd round.

This

[MoLakers]

gotta put things in perspective.. i think its worse not to play for spain.. two wrongs dont make a right. as long as he's healthy, we dont care much right? well spain loves its bball and they are not gonna like pau missing it cuz he "tanked" or whatever. he's much bigger than just lakers or the nba.. a whole country needs him.

to jetset.. he got injured but it turned out okay in 09..do all injuries turn out okay? are all injuries the same. no and no.. so anytime someone plays extra bball.. and its not for a lakers chip.. im concerned that they may get injured. imo i think u should be concerned too.

[kblo247]

Last summer was the first in LA in which Pau didn't play for Spain, and he came in to the season out of shape and with limited fuel which is why he started quick and then fell off, just like a runner who doesn't train properly for a marathon and starts off fast in a sprint but kills over toward the end. He isn't the type of guy like Kobe who will actually work out, practice playing ball, and go to the weight room when he has "me time" in the summer and the key thing is that FIBA, Spain, or even rehabbing from an injury forces him to go in the gym and get in and stay in a constant level of fitness.

[H00PDREAMS]

Last summer was the first in LA in which Pau didn't play for Spain, and he came in to the season out of shape and with limited fuel which is why he started quick and then fell off, just like a runner who doesn't train properly for a marathon and starts off fast in a sprint but kills over toward the end. He isn't the type of guy like Kobe who will actually work out, practice playing ball, and go to the weight room when he has "me time" in the summer and the key thing is that FIBA, Spain, or even rehabbing from an injury forces him to go in the gym and get in and stay in a constant level of fitness.

I bet Kobe and Lamar would agree. As both Kobe and Lamars level of play was much higher once they returned from participation in FIBA or Olympic tourney's. By the way Pau & Marc carry the team wouldn't you want that experience of Pau being the Alpha Dog of a very skilled team. I think it would build his confiedence.

[Anklebreaker702]

Last summer was the first in LA in which Pau didn't play for Spain, and he came in to the season out of shape and with limited fuel which is why he started quick and then fell off, just like a runner who doesn't train properly for a marathon and starts off fast in a sprint but kills over toward the end. He isn't the type of guy like Kobe who will actually work out, practice playing ball, and go to the weight room when he has "me time" in the summer and the key thing is that FIBA, Spain, or even rehabbing from an injury forces him to go in the gym and get in and stay in a constant level of fitness.

I bet Kobe and Lamar would agree. As both Kobe and Lamars level of play was much higher once they returned from participation in FIBA or Olympic tourney's. By the way Pau & Marc carry the team wouldn't you want that experience of Pau being the Alpha Dog of a very skilled team. I think it would build his confiedence.

Pau is fragile mentally & physically. At this point in his career I don't see why he needs to build his confidence. You can't teach heart.

[iamworthy]

Not cool, we just got swept in the 2nd round.

Soooo he's suppose to stop playing basketball

[Kilroy]

I don't care what he does this summer really, I just hope he understands he has a whole lot to prove next season and is ready to shut people up...

Because seriously, if he comes in as passive this season as he ended last season, the Lakers better trade his ass for someone who wants it.

[KingLakers]

I think its good Pau is going to play in the Euros I think one the biggest reasons the Lakers struggled so much this season was that after 3 yrs of focused and determined basketball everyone on the team took the summer after the back to back off and all their conditioning suffered because of it which led to alot of their problems during the season.

[doozyj]

Not cool, we just got swept in the 2nd round.

Soooo he's suppose to stop playing basketball

For Spain. Yes.