Pau Gasol's role as starter debated - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

Cajon · 12-08-2012, 06:26 AM

Pau Gasol's role as starter debated

Quote:

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Lakers are debating whether to bring Pau Gasol off the bench when he returns from knee tendinitis, said a person familiar with the team's thinking.

Gasol has struggled mightily this season, averaging 12.6 points and shooting only 42%, both career lows.

The Lakers are trying to decide how a demotion to the bench would affect Gasol. If they determined it would be adverse, they'd keep him in the starting lineup.

It was unclear when Gasol would return, though it could be Sunday against Utah at Staples Center. The Lakers then take off for another road trip, to Cleveland, New York, Washington and Philadelphia.

Before Friday's game, Gasol worked out on an elliptical machine. He has not started running again.

Antawn Jamison, Gasol's replacement the last three games, has averaged 13 points and six rebounds since joining the starting lineup. Jamison's worst game of the three was Friday against Oklahoma City — nine points and five rebounds in the Lakers' 114-108 loss.

Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni has benched Gasol twice since taking over the team. Gasol was held out the entire fourth quarter in a loss to Memphis and the last 6:07 in a loss to Orlando.

D'Antoni recently said he went with Jamison in those two games because "we just have to be a more dynamic team."

"We're slow right now," D'Antoni said this week. "Athletically, we're struggling against young teams that just run up and down."

Cajon · 12-08-2012, 07:23 AM

Since we're still mixing, matching and experimenting lineups and rotations, I say go give it a try. Pau's a well-known team player so this shouldn't be a problem.

Hopefully this also opens up more minutes for Hill.

e-monk · 12-08-2012, 07:46 AM

"a person familiar with the team's thinking"? early indicator that we are about to step into a pile of bullshit but whatever - he should be in with the second unit a lot so he can get more minutes at his natural position and then come the 4th let match ups and how he's playing determine whether he gets to close out the game but I dont see why you need to take the honor of being a starter away from him to accomplish any of that

**King Sancho Fantastic** · 12-08-2012, 08:05 AM

Need to see how Nash affects his game first.

**Ron** · 12-08-2012, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-monk

"a person familiar with the team's thinking"?

Glad we nailed down it was a person. My dog barked to me that she felt Robert Sacre had the inside track at ROY and I almost put it up on Twitter as fact.

e-monk · 12-09-2012, 08:13 AM

you know who is familiar with the team's thinking? you are, and so am I - we've listened to more than a few of Mitch's press conferences and read or seen interviews with all the primary players and executives - and that makes us 'people familiar with the team's thinking' doesnt it?

**Ron** · 12-09-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-monk

you know who is familiar with the team's thinking? you are, and so am I - we've listened to more than a few of Mitch's press conferences and read or seen interviews with all the primary players and executives - and that makes us 'people familiar with the team's thinking' doesnt it?

Good point.

But no one has talked to me. How about you?

e-monk · 12-09-2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron

Good point.

But no one has talked to me. How about you?

I just got off the phone with Marc Spears, I told him I was pretty sure the Lakers were trying to work a kobe for norris cole trade -we'll see if it gets into his blog

View Poll Results: Do you prefer Pau...
...starting...	5	100.00%
...or off the bench?	0	0%
Voters: 5. You may not vote on this poll

12-08-2012, 07:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
Cajon First Round Draft Pick Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Philippines Posts: 1,092 Rep Power: 163097	Re: Pau Gasol's role as starter debated Since we're still mixing, matching and experimenting lineups and rotations, I say go give it a try. Pau's a well-known team player so this shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully this also opens up more minutes for Hill.

12-08-2012, 07:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
e-monk All-Star Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,672 Rep Power: 3274359	Re: Pau Gasol's role as starter debated "a person familiar with the team's thinking"? early indicator that we are about to step into a pile of bullshit but whatever - he should be in with the second unit a lot so he can get more minutes at his natural position and then come the 4th let match ups and how he's playing determine whether he gets to close out the game but I dont see why you need to take the honor of being a starter away from him to accomplish any of that Last edited by e-monk; 12-09-2012 at 08:10 AM.

12-08-2012, 08:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
King Sancho Fantastic -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Riverside, California Age: 29 Posts: 9,575 Rep Power: 7193604	Re: Pau Gasol's role as starter debated Need to see how Nash affects his game first. __________________ Rumble, young man, rumble...

12-09-2012, 08:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
e-monk All-Star Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,672 Rep Power: 3274359	Re: Pau Gasol's role as starter debated you know who is familiar with the team's thinking? you are, and so am I - we've listened to more than a few of Mitch's press conferences and read or seen interviews with all the primary players and executives - and that makes us 'people familiar with the team's thinking' doesnt it?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode