Kobe Bryant calls out Pau Gasol after the loss against Orlando Magic – NBA Update
After the acquisition of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in what was a blockbuster summer, the Los Angeles Lakers were expected to be a something on the lines of a juggernaut this season. However at 8-9 so far, they look like anything
but one.
There are a lot of tangibles which have contributed to this lacklustre start. The Lakers have had a new coach in Mike D’Antoni, they have missed Steve Nash and Steve Blake due to injury issues and the bench is also not clicking
on a consistent basis. However, one thing which has stood apart, is the below par display from Pau Gasol, the seven foot power forward, who is considered as one of the pillar of the team.
Gasol has been quite inconsistent this season and his numbers are actually way lower than this career figures. His repertoire deteriorated further since the arrival of D’Antoni. It was only last week when the LAL coach benched
Gasol in the final quarter of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies, and later claimed publically that he did so to raise the probability of winning the game.
Gasol had reacted that time, demanding more touches on the ball. However, last night in an embarrassing loss against the Orlando Magic, Mike benched Gasol again for the last 6:07. The Lakers were up by one at that time and went
on to lose the game by 10, 113-103.
Gasol seemed visibility upset at his benching, but before he could utter anything this time around, Kobe Bryant, the man who is the face of the Lakers, called him out.
"Put your big-boy pants on," Bryant said after. "Just adjust. Just adjust. You can't whine about it. You can't complain about it."
"Pau has got to make some adjustments, obviously, to his game," He added. "He might not be posting up as much as he likes, but he just has to adjust.”
This reaction is in stark contrast to the support Kobe has been giving Gasol for the last couple of season, during which period, the Spaniard was in the continuous trade scrutiny.
The Mamba was however quick to mention that losing Gasol is not an option;
"We're not going to lose him," Bryant said. "That's just not going to happen. I've been around him long enough. I know how to deal with him."
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