Pau Gasol set for a good season in the revamped Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Feature
Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol is often criticized for being too soft and questions regarding his toughness have arisen over the past couple of seasons, during which the Lakers have failed to make a deep run into the
playoffs.
The Spaniard has been rebuked for every poor performance he has put up in the past few seasons and the talk of Gasol not being as aggressive as he was during the back to back championship run has remained large.
Coming into next season, Gasol has a lot to prove before he can be taken back into the circle of dominating big men in the NBA.
So will the Spaniard be ready to accept his role in the newly formed big four of the Lakers and be considered as one of the greats?
There is a huge chance of him being successful as the Lakers have made some big time moves during the summer which are set to not only help them in their title aspirations, but will also help Gasol improve.
The Lakers first acquired Steve Nash in a sign and trade deal with the Phoenix Suns and thus brought one of the best point guards in the NBA to their roster. The arrival of Nash has many benefits for the Lakers offence including
the slick pick and roll ability he brings along.
Nash is not only known for his astute vision with which he graces the court but can run the plays very well – something the Lakers had missed during last season. This can also be a dream scenario for Gasol. The forward has not
been getting his share of passes in the last few seasons and more often than not he had to either make his own offense or rely on second chance points.
Now with Nash on the roster, Gasol can get quality passes down low and the more he will score, the more his confidence will return.
The other big move made by the Hollywood franchise during the summer was the block buster trade of Dwight Howard which saw them give away Andrew Bynum to the Philadelphia 76ers. Reputation after the Dwightmare aside, the Superman
can be a perfect fit for this Lakers team and Gasol. Howard’s arrival will open more scoring opportunities Gasol. Not only does the Superman play in the low post really well but unlike Bynum, he moves around in the paint swiftly and even goes to set up picks
for guards which will help Gasol adjust his position on the court.
Another thing which will work in benefit of Gasol is the change of the offensive system after the arrival of Eddie Jordan, who will be bringing the Princeton Offence to the LA giants. This new style offence is based on versatile
big men like Gasol who can play in the post but also have a keen eye for passing the ball – something the Spaniard is not shy to do.
Pau Gasol is a class act, he always has been, and it is just a matter of how he is used. His performance in the Olympics, especially in the Final against USA, is mere proof of his brilliance and the Lakers would want him to continue
from there.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
Tags: