Pau Gasol doesn’t envision sweeping changes at the Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Update
Pau Gasol, the NBA superstar from Spain, doesn’t believe the Los Angeles Lakers require whole sale changes. The power forward is sure that the Lakers can challenge for the NBA World Championship next season with the same team that
took to the court in 2010-2011.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who won the NBA World Championship in 2009 and 2010 and are the most successful team of the last decade with five titles, were unceremoniously dumped out in the 2nd round of playoffs this last
season. There 4-0 loss to the Dallas Mavericks ended legendary coach Phil Jackson’s career on a sour note and prompted talk of breaking up the team by Lakers legend Magic Johnson.
During a recent interview though, Gasol revealed that he wouldn’t change too much in the team. Talent wise and ability wise, Gasol believes Los Angeles have one of the best rosters in the NBA, so change is unnecessary at the moment.
"It's not that we have to change who we are. We are who we are, and I think we're perfectly fine with that.” He told ESPN.
The Lakers were completely outplayed by Dallas last season as the two-time defending champions failed to keep up with the energy and commitment of their opponents. The humiliating loss brought forth a painful realization for Los
Angeles that the other team simply had more hunger, and Gasol believes his side will redress that issue next season.
“We just have to make sure we work as hard as anybody in the league, or the hardest. (We have to) want it as bad as anybody, or the (most), and that's it," he said. "Those three things are the basics of success, as being champions
and becoming champions."
He would know, since his arrival the Lakers have gone to 3 NBA Finals, winning 2 NBA World Championships. It is not yet known if the Lakers management would heed the power forward’s advice. They have been rumoured to be out on
the market for a certain Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic super star.
Andrew Bynum, the Lakers centre who has had issues with super star Kobe Bryant in the past, has been linked with an exit and Lamar Odom could also be sacrificed to make a bumper deal happen.
Such a deal could make Bryant happier, and also perhaps improve team chemistry, something Bynum complained about in the playoffs. Pau doesn’t really agree.
"I don't think (it will be a problem) at all," he said. "I think with this group, what we went through -- what we've been through, not just what we went through last year -- we'll be ready to bounce back, and ready to go to work.
But it's not our call.”
For the moment, all such transactions have to be put on hold because of the NBA lockout. Once it ends, there could be some movement in the Lakers camp.
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