the Game 5 enigma: Pau Gasol

Intresting game.  Was it just me or was everyone else as mystified by Pau's game last night as I was.  Don't get me wrong, one could easily make a case the he deserved the game ball, but I found myself alternately thrilled and mortified by Gasol's play in this pivotal Game 5.

I love that he played a team leading 44 minutes...I love that he led the team in assists with 8, often making the pass in some of the games best and biggest Laker moments...I love that had 6 offensive rebounds to share game honors in that department with Boozer, including that huge putback late in the game to essentially seal the win...I love that he blocked 4 shots, as many as the entire Jazz team had...  but, on the flip side,

I was bummed that he wasn't able to pull down one single defensive board...I'm bummed that he still allows himself to get pushed around by the Jazz big men and that he falls down so much...I'm bummed that he was one of the main culprits when it came to team turnovers (14 for the Lakers...way too many) with 4 of his own...I'm still waiting to see the full array of offensive moves in the paint and beyond, that I know he is capable of, demonstrated in this series...

I know I shouldn't be so upset with Pau because he really did have a great game for the Lakers in this win in the final analysis...but still - there was something that was just off kilter a bit with his performance in this game and pretty much throughout this series...

Then I realized, for like the 15th time in these last 3-4 months, he's not a true center and is still playing out of position!!!  I know it's pointless to keep harping on this, especially because we really don't know when Drew will come back, but I can't wait until we can finally move Gasol back to his more natural power forward position alongside a real center like Bynum.  I know there are skeptics out there who are leery of this twin towers concept, but it really does pain me sometimes to see Gasol trying to hold down a position he is really not ideally suited for.  I know they have yet to play one second of basketball together but I honestly think that the tandem of Bynum & Gasol is going to be so symbiotically perfect, so immaculately devastating, such a perfect union, that I almost can't stand it.  Throw Odom in there at the 3 spot and Fish & Kobe in the backcourt and...oh man, the idea of it still takes my breath away...

In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to live with the Pau we're seeing now - which is still pretty amazing.  I'd like to propose a toast to Pau Gasol: here's to your effort and perseverence thus far, and here's to the as-yet-to-be-seen and almost limitless potential of your future with the Lakers when Bynum comes back.

Cheers!

Jefe,

The thing that amazes me is how perfectly he fits in our system.  I remember his first game against the Nets,  he played like he had been with the Lakers all season.   Thats usually not the case with players transitioning to a new team.    Case in point,  Look at Dallas and Phoenix, it never really worked out.

Gasol is a great fit for the Lakers.  He is clutch.  Kobe should share his MVP with Gasol.  Not saying that Gasol is better than Kobe but Gasol can make a good player look great.  I liked the way the Lakers played last night and hopefully they can end it in Utah.

GO LAKERS!!!

They really have - Pau either needs more help down there or, like you said, he's going to have to bulk up and maybe even change his mindset a little - there were times when he looks a little like a pinball in the paint.

The good news is that I don't necessarily see San Antonio or New Orleans being nearly as physical with their big men as Utah has proven to be - although, if it comes to the Hornets, I do think Chandler has the potential to give Gasol some problems.

Jefe,

You hit the nail on the head, "he's not a true center." Don't expect him to change this late in his career by bulking up. That's not his game. Next year, this team (barring injuries) is going to be incredible with a front line of Bynum, Gasol, and Odom. If things go right and they want to push themselve, they could get 70 wins. But that's next year....This year, we have to hope that Gasol and Odom provide enough interior defense and rebounding to give L.A. a chance to win it all.

By the way is Bynum 100 pct done, even if they make the finals?