Gasol is Coming Back....I Think

11/17/09  Detroit at Lakers

The Lakers snapped their two game losing skid, but that wasn't the big story coming out of Staples Center after LA's 106-93 win over the Pistons.

I ran into Pau Gasol after the game, and for the first time since the pre-season, I'm convinced that he's returning to the Lakers on Thursday against Chicago.  Gasol hedged a little by telling me that he's going to practice tomorrow....and that if he "doesn't have any soreness," he'll play on Thursday.  Amazingly, since Gasol arrived in February of 2008, the Lakers haven't lost more than two games in a row (a streak that continued on Tuesday night).

To me, the games will only start to count once Gasol returns to the court.  The Lakers are a great team without him, but not a championship one.  As Kobe constantly reminds me, "he's one of the best players in the world."

The reason I think Gasol is so important to the Lakers is ridiculously simple.  He can catch and finish better than any big man in the game today.  I was reminded what a big deal that is when Kwame Brown came back to Staples with the Pistons.  Despite his reputation, Kwame is actually a huge body who can play defense, rebound and occasionally score.  But he has terrible hands and can't finish.  When it comes to the Lakers, that's critically important.

The reason for that is Kobe.  He can create space and breakdown a defense better than anybody I've ever seen.  So when Kwame was here, Kobe would slash inside--then pass to a wide open Kwame--who would then either drop the pass or miss the lay-up.  Chris Mihm was much better than Kwame, but he couldn't stay healthy.  It wasn't until Gasol arrived that everything came together.

Gasol has great hands, and catches everything.  After he does, he can score with either hand and almost always finishes.  The last time Kobe had somebody like that, it was Shaq.  Another thing about Gasol is that he demands a double-team.  If the other team has to double Kobe, and has to double Pau, it creates wide open opportunities for guys like Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, Ron Artest and Lamar Odom. 

The Lakers quest to repeat starts on Thursday.  Like Mychal Thompson says, their biggest challenge isn't another team, but two outside influences:  injuries and apathy.  So far this season, we've seen glimpses of both.

Next up:  the only visit of the year from Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. 

Comments

[Dan Karavas]

John, Gasol is most versatile offensive big man ever to play in the NBA. He can go inside, outside, run the floor,and create off the dribble with vision to find the open man.

[K Bryant]

Sorry, John- the season did start a few weeks back. Regardless of Gasol’s situation, the Lakers are going to get everyone’s best shot. It’s like when you play your older brother. You are going to run faster, jump at everything, push, scratch and elbow every chance you get to. The only difference now is that the Lakers have one more weapon for the wars- and that’s exactly what it is going to be. In reality, the Lakers need to make another “Gasol” type of trade and steal a quick, up-tempo point guard (ie, Brandon Jennings)

[darrel]

You couldn't be more wrong K Braynt!
with the exception of a few teams , like denver and houston ,who know how to double kobe at the right time and still agressively cover the rest of the flor.....most everybody justs quits,mostly because the refs are screwing them right and left......so they just wait for the next night to give it their best shot against the clippers,or some other scrub team ,were they know they will get a fair shake,and effort won't be a futile endevoer!