Is it time to start the Pau Gasol watch back up

[Dre]

...or will he eventually fit in just fine.

I know D'Antoni would probably like a different power forward, and that's not even just based off the past couple games...I'm saying that based on what I've seen from D'Antoni's offense for 6 or so years.

Maybe a 3 way with New York where someone else gets Pau and they get Amare? I know they want to get Josh Smith but Pau alone probably won't cut it

[XPeak]

Hmm... They want to get Josh Smith?

Josh Smith will always be an enigma, and I like him because of that... you never know when he will turn it around but as of now he would be a bad fit on LA. He is shooting bad this year, given more free reign on the Hawks' offense and would just add to the opponent's "Hack-A" strategy.

In terms of athleticism and possible defense upgrade then maybe yes.

I saw Pau against the Grizz and I can really count more than 5 times that he had horrible possessions. Not getting easy rebounds... Missing his usual marks from the perimeter... And passing/putting his teammates on a bad spot.

And I don't know if they will trust Amare to stay healthy, and reach a deal for him.

[Basel]

I hope not. The last thing we need is him to be distracted again.

[e-monk]

dont need Amare, Howard is going to do all that Amare stuff anyway

if they move anyone it will be Pau, he has value and is being forced to play out of position so it makes the most sense

of interest is that Howard was just as big a pussy and just as thouroughly outplayed in the last two games but all people talk about is Pau

[King Sancho Fantastic]

I think Pau is going through the same thing KG is going through. He's becoming strictly a center. Pau doesn't have the mobility to play on the perimeter anymore. Sure he can do it in spurts but he wears down too easy chasing guys around on the perimeter for +35. Especially in a high octane, running offense like DAntoni's. Saw glimpses if this even when Phil was here. Best thing to do is to bring him off the bench as Dwight's primary backup and run the offense through him with Jamison/Hill splitting minutes at the 4.

[Jamel Irief]

I will be shocked if they make a major trade again until the summer. Hopefully if these rumors do start to sprout Mitch is out there in public squashing them quickly.

[Cajon]

Either he mans up and play hard especially on defense or trade him not necessarily for an all-star type player but for players who'll make D'Antoni's system work. Paying $19 mil for a bench player's never a good investment.

[e-monk]

Originally Posted by King Sancho Fantastic

I think Pau is going through the same thing KG is going through. He's becoming strictly a center. Pau doesn't have the mobility to play on the perimeter anymore. Sure he can do it in spurts but he wears down too easy chasing guys around on the perimeter for +35. Especially in a high octane, running offense like DAntoni's. Saw glimpses if this even when Phil was here. Best thing to do is to bring him off the bench as Dwight's primary backup and run the offense through him with Jamison/Hill splitting minutes at the 4.

Pau is not 'going through' anything - he's 7 foot tall, back to the basket, low post playing, CENTER- he has always been a CENTER, his PER is like 5 points higher when he plays CENTER because that's what he is and has always been is a CENTER
CENTER

[e-monk]

Originally Posted by Cajon

Either he mans up and play hard especially on defense or trade him not necessarily for an all-star type player but for players who'll make D'Antoni's system work. Paying $19 mil for a bench player's never a good investment.

the money he's making it would have to be multiple players, depth and shooting

[Jace]

If they acquire J-Smiff, that would be a huge mistake. The guy just doesn't know how to use his gifts, and will think he's there to spread the floor. The only thing he spreads on the floor with his jumper is rhino feces.

So much was made about how the Lakers size will DESTROY the Heat, but ironically, it's looking like the Lakers would prefer a Battier-type at the four. I mean, Antawn Jamison over Pau Gasol because D'Antoni wants to win the game? That's scary.

Originally Posted by Dre

Maybe a 3 way with New York where someone else gets Pau and they get Amare? I know they want to get Josh Smith but Pau alone probably won't cut it

...

Come on, Dre. NY's issue with Amare is a similar one with Pau, too much congestion on the block. Do you forget PHX played Amare at the 5? When Shaq arrived, it threw off D'Antoni's mojo. Amare is not the stretch four he likes, and he's worse than Pau. They'd have the same issues, but worse.

[Cajon]

Originally Posted by e-monk

the money he's making it would have to be multiple players, depth and shooting

Exactly.

[Jamel Irief]

Originally Posted by Jace

If they acquire J-Smiff, that would be a huge mistake. The guy just doesn't know how to use his gifts, and will think he's there to spread the floor. The only thing he spreads on the floor with his jumper is rhino feces.

So much was made about how the Lakers size will DESTROY the Heat, but ironically, it's looking like the Lakers would prefer a Battier-type at the four. I mean, Antawn Jamison over Pau Gasol because D'Antoni wants to win the game? That's scary.



...

Come on, Dre. NY's issue with Amare is a similar one with Pau, too much congestion on the block. Do you forget PHX played Amare at the 5? When Shaq arrived, it threw off D'Antoni's mojo. Amare is not the stretch four he likes, and he's worse than Pau. They'd have the same issues, but worse.

Jamison actually averaged more PPG than Pau last year (and lead the team tonight). D'antoni likes scorers.

[Wilt_The_Stilt]

Originally Posted by Jamel Irief

Jamison actually averaged more PPG than Pau last year

Nope. Fewer points on more attempts.

[Jace]

Maybe he meant per36?

Either way, it's moot. Jamison was on a team where he was more of the featured scorer (Pau played next to another block-hog, as well as a ball-hog), had a higher usage rate, and a lower offensive rating (CLE probably played at a faster pace). On top of that, Pau's assist rate was way higher. Sorry, you can't convince me Jamison is the all-around better offensive option, save for spacing the floor better. Pau seemed to be LAL's 2nd best player in the preseason and early in the season.

And as Wilt pointed out, Pau was way more efficient. 40% to 50% is a pretty big difference. I would hope an NBA coach isn't simply looking at a stat page and saying "This guy averaged more points per 36, so he's the better offensive option." That would be extremely myopic and elementary.

[Jamel Irief]

Originally Posted by Jace

Maybe he meant per36?

Either way, it's moot. Jamison was on a team where he was more of the featured scorer (Pau played next to another block-hog, as well as a ball-hog), had a higher usage rate, and a lower offensive rating (CLE probably played at a faster pace). On top of that, Pau's assist rate was way higher. Sorry, you can't convince me Jamison is the all-around better offensive option, save for spacing the floor better. Pau seemed to be LAL's 2nd best player in the preseason and early in the season.

And as Wilt pointed out, Pau was way more efficient. 40% to 50% is a pretty big difference. I would hope an NBA coach isn't simply looking at a stat page and saying "This guy averaged more points per 36, so he's the better offensive option." That would be extremely myopic and elementary.

Nah I meant more points. I was thinking Pau finished around 16.8. I was wrong.

Everything you said was correct, but I think it's fair to say that Jamison has been more agressive looking for his shot through his career than Pau. Considering they will both get a lot of open and easy 1-on-1 looks in this offense D'antoni at times will play the guy that's more likely to make teams pay.

If Pau is just going to sit around in the high post and only shoot when he has wide open 17 footers why not play the guy with more range?

Now that being said, I think Pau's a smart guy and hope he will figure it out. He was great tonight.