Is Pau Gasol getting to much credit for Lamar's success?

DALakeshow · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1898

Just maybe it has to do with Kwame Brown just being that bad. It's hard for any PF to look great with Kwame as his center, unless your Duncan or KG level.

If you look over the last 2 years, Lamar has always played well 2nd half of the season and in the playoffs.

Honestly, Lamar creates more high percentage shots for Gasol, then Gasol does for Lamar. When was the last time Gasol scored on his own with Okur guarding him. He has a hard time scoring on Okur 1 on 1 without Lamar or Kobe getting him a layup.

Lamar has proven he can score on his own (without assistance) and without the ball, while Gasol against physical defenders like Okur needs Kobe and Lamar to set him up for layups and dunks.
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khmrP · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 611

what kind of #s/impact did Odom have when Pau was out for that stretch and what was our record?

crucifixion · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject:

Wow you are amazing. I've never seen a person push an agenda for so hard, for so long, and as creative.
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Lakerman JSJ · Clublakers Moderator Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 9973

There are 2 main reasons why Lamar has been so much better since Gasol arrived:

1) Pau is one of the best passing post players in the NBA & sets Lamar up for easy looks frequently

&

2) Pau is that 2nd scoring threat that team's worry about when playing the Lakers so Lamar is able to more or less "fly under the radar" a bit and have the defense lose track of him often.

Both of these reasons are directly related to what Gasol brings to the table more than what Kwame didn't.
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John3:16 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

The LeBrons · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:

Dude, your boy is playing great. Why remind us how utterly ridiculous you are?
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karlmalonefan · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 239 Location: Phoenix, AZ

DALakeshow · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1898

kop5789 · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 504

They probably do complement and raise each other's stats a little bit, but yes, most of the credit should go to Lamar.

Old Fashioned · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 293

superbad · Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 901

why has there been too much negativity lately? :confused:
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DALakeshow · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1898

DALakeshow · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1898

karacha · Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 15721

DALakeshow, let me ask you one question: are you actually Lamar Odom, or one of his family members? Or close friends? It's a serious question.

Lamar is playing really well since the Pau trade. We all recognized it. He got credit for it. Pau also got credit and he deserves it. With Lamar, it's all psychological - he does not feel a lot of pressure, so he automatically plays better. Having a terrific player like Gasol next to him (who has to be defended at all costs or he can drop 25-30 on anyone) gives Odom space to roam, cut to the basket, grab rebounds, be more aggressive. It's a combination of Lamar feeing relieved of pressure - and Gasol being a great player for us. I mean, Gasol makes everyone better, just like Kobe does. It just makes sense.

There's nothing wrong with that at all. That does not diminish Odom's role, it's a good thing. Every good player should make everyone else's job easier.

(keep in mind that the phrase "making someone better" should not be taken literally. Good players are not really making you better - they are making your job easier, enabling an already good player to thrive.)

I would still like the honest answer to my first question, because I don't see how someone not being very close to Lamar (or being Lamar himself) can be so stubborn in pushing this agenda. I just don't get it why would it matter to an ordinary fan.
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Splash · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 311 Location: City of Angels

Just as long as we have a big man, whether it be Bynum or Gasol, L.O. shines.

His comfort zone is the 3rd option and loves bein' the dude behind the spotlight.

His game is so smooth and care free. It's special to watch.

So yeah, back to my point, L.O. With a legit 2nd option, preferably a big man, on ANY squad in the NBA, L.O. would be ballin' out of control day in and day out.

No doubt about it.

He's just too damn good....just not as a 2nd option.

EDIT: By the way, Pau is fundamentally sound and is an awesome player, but if you were to throw Bynum to replace Pau, we're basically just as good, if not better, as a squad.....while L.O. is just as good as a player.

You can quote me on that. Bynum is a straight up BEAST in the paint. I love the addition of Pau, but boy oh boy is homeboy Ga(SOFT). Bynum brings the muther@$#^#$& pain!!!

Weezy · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 21554 Location: Anaheim, CA

karacha · Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 15721

That's why I asked the question: why does it matter to him if he's not directly connected to Odom? man3

Because the only thing that really matters is that our team is playing well, and we're getting good production from our main guys, and most of the time from bench players as well. Great even. No one is diminishing Lamar's role at all. Or Gasol's, or Kobe's. They are all playing well. Some games are obviously better than the others, but that's to be expected.

Who cares if Odom is playing well because Pau is here? The only thing that matters is that he is playing well.
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Old Fashioned · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 293

Kwame's Cake · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 4:19 pm Post subject:

I see some serious underrating of Pau in this thread...
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last stand · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 2042

yes pau's presence is overrated its pau opening things up for kobe who then feeds lamar for the dunk

Xepa · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

YES. Pau is getting way too much credit.

Why doesn't anybody say that Pau has improved due to Odom's presence?

Odom put up 20/10 the last 2 seasons during the playoffs against the Suns. He's putting up 20/10 now in this Utah series, and put up even worse numbers against the Nuggets (but still had a great impact). Before Gasol, Odom led that young Miami team to a near upset against the Pacers, after starting 0-8.

Lamar is extremely underrated. People like to blame him for not 'living up' to being a second option. He's simply not a scorer. Now that his scoring is up, all of a sudden, Gasol has made him a great? He's still dishing the ball, initiating fast breaks, rebounding and defending.

Just my .02
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Old Fashioned · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 293

kobe35ppg · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

supreme8 · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 143

[Swearing is not permitted at Clublakers. You must edit this post prior to submitting.] just wait until bynum gets back if he can do this with pau what about with bynum no1 is going to stop him if he works on his d gets pippen like defense its fukin over

Mo Rings · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 1180 Location: West Hills

Here's the secret to Lamar. Give him the responsibility of scoring, rebounding, and assisting in the triple double range, and he will fail miserably. Give Lamar the freedom to score, rebound, and assist, with no "quota", and Lamar will average close to a triple double.
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Azn Pinoy · Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 2092

I think Gasol is getting way too much credit. When he came to L.A., it increased LO's productivity a lot, but I think the main thing was confidence. Lamar has been really confident in everything he does lately, even when Pau isn't on the floor. I seem him taking guys one on one. Gasol I think was the catalyst, but take out Gasol now, and you'll see either the same or similar Lamar.

AndrewB17 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject:

Odom has always been a good player but ever since Pau has shown up he has taken alot of pressure off from Odom. Now Odom is the #3 scores instead of #2. It also means Odom can do whatever he wants on the floor, he doesn't have 1 position he stays in.
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CheezStake · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 886 Location: Santa Ana

You go get em Da Lakeshow. We took enough heat when LO was playing poorly earlier this season, in my opinion, you can post a new thread about Lamar everyday, and it wouldn't be enough. I remember everyone wanting him dealt for Gerald Green and Theo Ratliff, or Udonis Haslem, or a sack of potatoes. I specifically remember comparing Lamar to Boozer earlier this season, and every posters tore me apart. How dare I compare Lamar to Boozer was the consensus. Now, I see Lamar eating Boozer alive, turning Boozer into a regular slow-footed PF, who disappears frequently. Lamar >>>>Boozer and Okur. man4

DALakeshow · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1898