Pau Gasol

  Game 4 was Zombieland, ugliest playoff game in recent memory, saved for the green Kryptonite team by a drooling fat Swamp Thing, and a jabbering troll from under the bridge of deadly boring game memories. Lakers lost the map to the paint and forgot to play the 4th quarter. Marketing mavens are still trying to figure out how much money a round-ball jock has to make before he remembers it’s a 4, not a 3-quarter game.

Continue reading "Finals 2010: Game 5 Preview"

layers.  Yeah, I know "its not fair", but I dont care.  Its' fun.  I think Pau Gasol is like Kevin Mchale in so many ways, it's crazy.  First of all, the physical similarities are there.  They're both tall, thin, white power forwards with long arms and a wide variety of post moves, left or right handed.  Gasol can play center, but he prefers playing power forward. They're career stats mirror each other too.  Here are Kevin McHale's per game career stats:  17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 55 fg%, 79.8 ft%, 7.0 fg made.  Now look how similar

Continue reading "Pau Gasol=Kevin McHale"

half-time lead. They kept control and defeated the Orlando Magic 99-86.

Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Trevor Arriza were consistently big time support throughout the playoffs and finals.

Continue reading "Congratulations, Los Angeles Lakers, ..."

ed Orlando by tapping the ball away from Kobe with 30 seconds left and Orlando ahead 104-102.  Pau Gasol valiantly dove on the floor to save the ball but couldn't get the ball to Bryant as Mickael Pietrus stole the ball and preserved the Magic's first-ever Finals win.

Continue reading "Two Strikes and Kobe's Out as the Closer"

e shooting but their overall height will be more than any team could compete with if they put Odom, Pau Gasol, and Bynum on the front line. It is an idea that I do not think Coach Phil Jackson

Continue reading "New Lakers Team? Odom to Remain a Starter?"

vic should have been a very useful player for the Lakers, providing floor space for Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, and bringing high-percentage shooting from downtown as well as the free throw stripe. If Luke Walton, Trevor Ariza, and Radmanovic were considered Los Angeles' trio of small forwards, I'd rank Radmanovic either first or second out of the set. Ariza's probably a better all-around player, but I'd definitely take Radmanovic over Walton, who oddly enough, is the one who gets the bulk of the minutes.

Continue reading "Radmanovic trade a mistake for Lakers"

This is a good mental toughness test for a key group of Lakers. Starting with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, this is their chance to step up in a big game. I know it is just regular season, but this

Continue reading "Lakers-Celtics"

Five straight double-doubles from the Lakers big man, and no I'm not talking about Pau Gasol. Lakers center Andrew Bynum looks to be over coming any mental blocks left over from last year's inj

Continue reading "If Bynum Keeps this up... Lookout!"

That creates more space for both Kobe and Pau Gasol, both of whom require double teams at different junctures of each game. The easiest way to put this is: there's no way to stop the Lakers unless you have seven defenders on the court. The Celtics are the only team with even the slighest chance to contain Phil Jackson's prolific offense.

Continue reading "We're headed for a Lakers/Celtics ..."

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 22, Trevor Ariza had 17, Pau Gasol 16, and Andrew Bynum 15 in a balanced effort. Bynum provided another strong all around game with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and f

Continue reading "Farmar Returns with a Bang"

It is only fitting that the maiden voyage of this blog be the same day as a marquee matchup, the Lakers against the Cavs.  It is a homegame for the Lakeshow, but the Lakers have lost two straight.  This is a big game.  A victory will make their prior two losses meaningless, but a loss could send them into a Celtics-esque tailspin.  The Lakers lost those last two games to other top-tier teams, the Spurs and the Magic.  They were both very winnable, decided in the last minute of the game.  Those are heartbreakers.  If the Lakers hope to win, they need Pau on top of his game, Bynum to man-up (I'm having frightening visions of LeBron slicing through the lane like a knife through butter), and someone else (Fish, Trevor, Sasha, Lamar, i.e.) has to step up.  For God's sake, Trevor, stop walking with the ball!  I love you dearly, Trevor, but your excessive travelling is hurting the team! 

Continue reading "Big Game: Lakers vs. Cavs"

The clamp-down was highlighted by stand-out blocks and scoring from Pau Gasol. 7 of his 20 pts. came in the final three minutes.

As usual, Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 27 pts., w/9 rebounds and 5 assists.

Continue reading "Christmas Gift: Lakers 92, Celtics 83"

surgery sidelining.

Mr. Consistency Pau Gasol was once again key catalyst behind Kobe.

Continue reading "Lakers Sting Hornets 100-87"

Bryant may be the best player on earth, but the title of Lakers MVP belongs to Pau Gasol. As good as Kobe Bryant is (and he's very, very good), the game is still played inside-out. NBA championships are won with the big guys in the paint, not with the guys who make the "pretty" plays.

Continue reading "LAKERS ARE FUELED BY GASOL"

high 33 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to a 104-97 win against the Denver Nuggets. Pau Gasol also had a nice game putting up 16 points and 16 rebounds. The Lakers are now 3-0 e

Continue reading "That's Just Kobe Being Kobe"

ers with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, including a nice scoring streak in the second half. Pau Gasol scored all 15 of his points in the first half.

As expected the Lakers bench played well scoring 34 points. Trevor Ariza led them with 11, Jordan Farmar and Lamar Odom had nine points each. The Lakers depth is going to be a huge factor this season. Two of the last three players off the bench used to be starters, thats Chris Mihm and Luke Walton.

Continue reading "Opening Night"

Kobe is going to continue to be the best player in the game and with a versatile big like Pau Gasol contributing for a full year this team is going to be tough to beat.

Coach Phil Jackson has experimented with bringing Lamar Odom off the bench, as the preseason has gone on, this looks more like a permanent move for Odom. This strengthens the bench and gives them another playmaker coming off the sideline. Backup point guard Jordan Farmar just continues to get better, as does swingman Trevor Ariza.

Continue reading "Lakers Preview"

 

Pau Gasol is seven feet tall but he just got taller in my eyes.

Gasol and his teammates on Spain's Olympic team was put in an embarassing position this week of having to explain why they agreed to pose for an advertisement that reflected a racist tone.

Continue reading "GASOL GETS THE BIG PICTURE"

I am looking forward to it.

Advantage: Kevin Garnet

Center (Pau Gasol vs. Kendrick Perkins) Last series Perkins displayed a little consistency and hopefully he keeps it up this series because it will be an added plus. The Celtics need him to get physical.

Continue reading "Lakers vs Celtics Matchups"

As I watched the Hornets-Spurs game last night, I had no idea whom I wanted to win.  The Hornets?  The Spurs?  It wasn't so much that I was rooting for my favorite of the two, but I was looking for the opponent that couldn't match up with the Lakers.  It was a great game, but in the end, I think I did want the Hornets to win.  With Tony Parker maturing and Tim Duncan his usually great stoic self, the veteran Spurs always somehow find a way to win unspectacularly.  I've always like the Spurs since the George Gervin days, but I will always choose my Lakers over the Spurs anyday...

Continue reading "And so it begins!!!"

Or so we think!  Although I'm hoping that Pau, LO, Fish and company pull it off tonight--the Nuggets are a house divided--it wouldn't be all that bad if they lost... They can easily finish the Nuggets off at home in Game 5!  And with the way Luke Walton is playing!  He just adds something to the equation, something that the Lakers have sorely missed from Luke.  But here's my real concern...

Continue reading "Tonight's the night..."

and I also believe that they have a chance to go all the way to finals!  With the addition of Pau Gasol and the improvement of the Bench Mob, the Lakers have become an excellent team... But I gotta admit one thing here... I still don't like Kobe Bryant... and I still haven't forgiven him... for those three (count 'em, three) airballs he threw up in a playoff game against Utah when he was a rookie.  Kobe's a great player and all, but I just can't like him.  I've tried it to, but I just can't... For me, he's still too selfish. I'm sorry for saying this, but it's not Kobe who'll take the Lakers and their fans to the promised land, but it'll be

Continue reading "Still haven't forgiven Kobe!"

I really couldn't have asked for more from the two game mini-series with the Warriors. Being as all three of our real centers are hurt we were forced to play small ball with them both games. Obviously this led to very exciting matchups. Here are a few of my observations:Lamar Is a Beast: If only he could play the Warriors or Suns every day. Being clearly the most talented big man on the court Lamar owned the Warriors. Posting back to back 20 rebound games was amazing, as was playing all 53 minutes of game two. Don't forget how well he played aginst Amare during both of our post-season matchups. It will be interesting to see how they play against each other if we meet them in the playoffs this year. It is becoming ever less likely that Lamar, Bynum, and Gasol will all be on the same court this year so it will be necessary for Lamar to keep up this effort with Gasol back as Gasol lacks and strong inside force.

Continue reading "What a wild two game stretch..."

rn conference has been busy for weeks now.  Teams saw what the Lakers did when they traded for Pau Gasol and felt that they had to try and one up the Lakers.  The Phoenix Suns went out and took a huge chance by trading for Shaquille O’Neal and the Mavericks traded away half their team to acquire Jason Kidd.  With the trading deadline this week I would not be surprised if western conference teams are not done playing deal or no deal.  With the number one seed and the number nine seed being separated by a mere four and a half games, every thing is going to be magnified for the next two months.  Every single game is going to matter and a three game losing streak, for anyone, could have that team on the verge of missing the playoffs.  After months of boring basketball the west is here to save us.

Continue reading "The NBA, Where Only the Second Half ..."

.  Although, Paul Gasol does have somewhat of a ring to it.  And suitably, a ring is what Pau Gasol is going to help lead the Lakers to. 

Gasol, the latest edition to the Los Angeles Lakers, was acquired by the Lakers in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in early February.   In the trade the Lakers gave up Kwame Brown (sigh of relief), Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, two first round draft picks, and draft rights to Marc Gasol.  And yes, they are brothers.  In return from the Grizzlies, the Lakers received

Continue reading ""Who's Paul Gasol?""

the 4th, with the net result being a 4-point victory.

Also quite notable was the great new Laker Pau Gasol's 30 pt., 9 rebound contribution, after a slight dip in production in the Lakers shoulda-won-this-one-too narrow loss to Atlanta the game before.

Continue reading "LAKERS OUT-ENSORCEL MAGIC, 117-113"

Much awaited Pau Gasol debut against New Jersey? Simply mah-velous!

Looked pretty sound on a few scores, boards, passes, right away. Had to sit a bit, early foul trouble.

Defensive game early against Nets, 47-47 at the half.

Kobe dislocated a lower pinkie joint, which may affect his shooting.

Pau's delivering nicely, even in his first game as a Laker, 20 pts./10 rebounds with 5+ mins. left in game.

93-83 Lakers, with 3+ mins. left.

Kobe had an off night shooting, maybe it's the finger -- but yo, D-Fish scored 28!

Continue reading "PAU GASOL'S DEBUT A RESOUNDING SUCCESS"

When Pau Gasol was gift-wrapped by the Memphis Grizzlies to the L.A. Lakers, one Western Conference GM said, "Are you f***ing kidding me?" As for my reaction? I say, "CHAMPIONSHIP!"

Continue reading "Gasol makes the Lakers the team to beat"

rapturous Kobe-powered 121-101 win over the Raptors was no doubt fueled by the trade made for Pau Gasol -- aptly-named. With rock-steady veteran AND current season avgs. of 19 pts. and 9 rebounds, he is precisely the pow and gas the Lakers need to fill the void left by the injured absence of the newly-emergent Andrew Bynum.

Continue reading "TRIUMPH OVER TORONTO TRUMPED BY PAU GASOL TRADE"