Is it time to start the Pau Gasol watch back up

[E.H. Munro]

Originally Posted by R-Star

And anyone who thinks Ryan Anderson would come in and play better than Pau in the Lakers system is out of their minds. There is 1, and only 1 thing Ryan Anderson is better at, and that's 3's. His mid range isn't better, and close to the basket he isn't in Pau's universe. Pau is a better passer. Pau is a better blocker. Pau is a head and shoulders better defender.


Some of you think if you just put a 3 point shooting 4 who does nothing else well, and I mean absolutely nothing else well, that he'll somehow do better than Pau? Ridiculous.

I don't think that Gashole for Ryan Anderson makes any sense (again, unless it's a three way deal with LA getting a lot more than Ryan ****ing Anderson). However Gasol is a terrible fit next to Howard in D'Antoni's offense and D'Antoni's a system guy. He wants to run his system and wants his players to fit it rather than vice versa. So you're going to see an awful lot of Gashole getting frustrated playing a role that doesn't suit him. And him sitting on the bench in crunch time in big games is going to be a common sight.

[e-monk]

Originally Posted by Dee-Zy

I kinda skipped the earlier posts in this discussion and there has been some back and forth pettiness at times in here that I don't feel like reading through every single posts.

Has a Pau for Amare or Pau for Bargnani and whatever been mentioned?

They would both be an extremely good fit for each teams.

Pau might not want to go to Toronto but with Calderon there, maybe it won't be so bad?

Amare wouldnt be a good fit since all the P&R opportunities he used to feast on will be taken up by Howard - I dont hate the Gallinari/Chandler idea (Faried being too much to hope for I suppose) although ehm is probably right about LAL not wanting to send Pau to a WC contender - someone like Ilyasova + some is interesting but probably no better than Anderson +

[XxIrvingxX]

Originally Posted by Luke

D'antoni is a good coach.

Just because he was lucky enough to have a team with Steve Nash as the PG and Amare Stoud playing PF, along with a bunch of other guys who could shoot threes, does not make him a good coach. He is far from it.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Just because Popovich was lucky enough to have Tim Duncan, Manu and Tony Parker plus a bunch if guys who can shoot and defend does not make him a good coach...

You see what I did there??

[e-monk]

just because Phil Mike shaq kobe
just because Riles Magic Kareem
just because Red....


this is fun!

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by Wilt_The_Stilt

So what do you think is the solution to Pau's struggles?

I'm curious what a non-Laker fan thinks.

There is no solution. Pau has shown he goes through lengthy cold streaks. They try to blame it on phantom injuries quite often, but lets be honest, its because hes one of the most mentally fragile guys out there.

But Ryan Anderson is in no way going to improve the Lakers. If you can con someone into trading you an actual quality 4, that's different.

[Jace]

Originally Posted by R-Star

And anyone who thinks Ryan Anderson would come in and play better than Pau in the Lakers system is out of their minds. There is 1, and only 1 thing Ryan Anderson is better at, and that's 3's. His mid range isn't better, and close to the basket he isn't in Pau's universe. Pau is a better passer. Pau is a better blocker. Pau is a head and shoulders better defender.


Some of you think if you just put a 3 point shooting 4 who does nothing else well, and I mean absolutely nothing else well, that he'll somehow do better than Pau? Ridiculous.


This forum confuses me with its idiocy at times.

My point was on the floor with Dwight, Kobe, and Nash, the four doesn't need to be a Swiss Army knife; at least, in D'Antoni's system where Pau seems flummoxed. His passing should be great with those other guys, but I haven't seen it much since early in the season. On top of being a very good rebounder, Anderson can also create his own shot a bit and is still improving. You're making him out to be Steve Novak.

Ilyasova would be a worse version of Anderson. He's had an awful season so far. He maybe hustles a little more, and is a better rebounder (not a huge deal with Dwight in tow), but Anderson is the better shooter.

Just to reiterate, I've backed off this. Obviously a trade of Pau for Anderson wouldn't make sense unless another useable piece came along with him.

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by Jace

My point was on the floor with Dwight, Kobe, and Nash, the four doesn't need to be a Swiss Army knife; at least, in D'Antoni's system where Pau seems flummoxed. His passing should be great with those other guys, but I haven't seen it much since early in the season. On top of being a very good rebounder, Anderson can also create his own shot a bit and is still improving. You're making him out to be Steve Novak.

Ilyasova would be a worse version of Anderson. He's had an awful season so far. He maybe hustles a little more, and is a better rebounder (not a huge deal with Dwight in tow), but Anderson is the better shooter.

Just to reiterate, I've backed off this. Obviously a trade of Pau for Anderson wouldn't make sense unless another useable piece came along with him.

The point is, there is nothing Anderson does better other than shoot 3's. You talk about passing as though Anderson would come in and do better, we both know that's not the case.

The team would be worse off if you replaced Gasol with Anderson.

[Jace]

Are you saying that I implied Anderson would be a better passer? That's not at all what happened.

I agree the team would be worse if you subbed out Gasol for Anderson, as I've intimated the last few times I've posted on this.

My point is in an offense so heavily based around a system rather than individual players' talent/versatility, the Lakers starting 5 might operate better for D'Antoni with someone who can spread the floor better. Lot's of teams have had a lot of success with one or two specialists in their starting five, as long as they can do at least one other thing very well (rebounding for Anderson). His defense does suck, though. Ultimately it's moot because I agree it would be a stupid swap. Just saying it would lube up D'Antoni's grind a little better, strictly looking at the main lineup.

[R-Star]

Pau has only been cold for 4 games. Before that he was giving you what people should be used to by now, with a stinker game thrown in here and there.


4 games. And as per usual BBB.net freaks out. Lets all relax. Pau Gasol is a lot better than his last 4 games, and he'll bounce back.

[e-monk]

Originally Posted by R-Star

Pau has only been cold for 4 games. Before that he was giving you what people should be used to by now, with a stinker game thrown in here and there.


4 games. And as per usual BBB.net freaks out. Lets all relax. Pau Gasol is a lot better than his last 4 games, and he'll bounce back.

this is a good point - his shooting has been bad but otherwise he's been putting up double doubles (and the shooting woes I ascribe to small sample size + reduced touches + taking more jumpers + less work in the post + just plain out of rhythm) - I dont know what the answer is - maybe more time with the second unit where he can be the focus down low while Howard is out of the way?

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by e-monk

this is a good point - his shooting has been bad but otherwise he's been putting up double doubles (and the shooting woes I ascribe to small sample size + reduced touches + taking more jumpers + less work in the post) - I dont know what the answer is - maybe more time with the second unit where he can be the focus down low?

In theory it sounds like a good idea, but with how mentally fragile Pau is, hard to say if he'd thrive in it, or view it as a slight and wilt.


I think its just going to be classic Pau where he goes through lengthy stretches of playing terrible, then reverts back to his regular self.

[Knicks4life]

I've watched a few Lakers games this season and I don't think he can guard 4s anymore and has done a poor job rotating on D resulting in a good number of wide open lanes to the basket, also he appears to be struggling at getting to his spot in the post which is resulting in him being more passive than usually.

[Jace]

Yeah, I thought he was easily their second best player earlier in the season, and seemed to be making that mid-range jumper in his sleep. I'm just basing what I've been saying off of the incessant, acrimonious cries I've heard coming out of Lakerville on here and Twitter.

K4L, I do agree guarding 4's could be a major battle for him from here out. I haven't noticed him struggling to get to his spot in the post...is that with Dwight on the floor?

[R-Star]

Gasol used to be the anchor and now Dwight is, so its probably a learning curve for Gasol.