Pau Thread: Surgery a success; now rehab & rest for 12 weeks

LOL Pau leading the 2nd unit. We already tried that last year when Pau was supposed to "lead the second unit". He didn't do jack s*** and Jordan Hill was getting more post ups then Pau. And when he does get it in the post it's not like he does anything with it.

The play I'll never forget is when Barnes passed him the ball from an out of bounds play, into Pau in the post, Pau wanted no part of it and passed it back to Barnes before Barnes could even get back in bounds. TO.

The guy isn't the most skilled big man in the game, he's not a top 5 PF, C, bigmen whatever you want to call it. He's a passive aggressive, whiner, that complains all the time about things not being right, but never does a damn thing to correct them on the court.

He needs to be benched for Jamison/Hill because giving a cute little lob pass to Howard once or twice a game without playing defense, hustling, showing any heart, aggressiveness just doesn't cut it.

This guy is a joke and owes his career to Kobe Bryant. Soft, mentally weak trash. Lord knows how LA won back to back with this trash starting.

I guess it's because Dwight was still a baby and KG was past his prime.

Doc Brown wrote:The play I'll never forget is when Barnes passed him the ball from an out of bounds play, into Pau in the post, Pau wanted no part of it and passed it back to Barnes before Barnes could even get back in bounds. TO.

That's also kind of what happened late in yesterday's game, passing/fumbling back and forth, which led to Kobe stepping out of bounds for a TO.

venky wrote:This guy is a joke and owes his career to Kobe Bryant. Soft, mentally weak trash. Lord knows how LA won back to back with this trash starting.

I guess it's because Dwight was still a baby and KG was past his prime.

Guess you could say Bron was still a baby, too.

I see his starting gig taken away soon, and no way he should be in late game situations especially defensive stops.

^^^now come to think of it, Hill should've been in there, he and Howard are much more mobile against PnR and its exactly what Indy ran at the end, Artest didn't help either with his switch to early.

another guy pricey/riskey is Nene, he's coming off the bench now but Pau/Blake or Duhon for Nene/Beal or future 1st?

Doc Brown wrote:LOL Pau leading the 2nd unit. We already tried that last year when Pau was supposed to "lead the second unit". He didn't do jack s*** and Jordan Hill was getting more post ups then Pau. And when he does get it in the post it's not like he does anything with it.

The play I'll never forget is when Barnes passed him the ball from an out of bounds play, into Pau in the post, Pau wanted no part of it and passed it back to Barnes before Barnes could even get back in bounds. TO.

The guy isn't the most skilled big man in the game, he's not a top 5 PF, C, bigmen whatever you want to call it. He's a passive aggressive, whiner, that complains all the time about things not being right, but never does a damn thing to correct them on the court.

He needs to be benched for Jamison/Hill because giving a cute little lob pass to Howard once or twice a game without playing defense, hustling, showing any heart, aggressiveness just doesn't cut it.

Wow Doc that's harsh. While I think Pau is underperforming, I do believe it is because he is not put in a position to succeed based on where he is in his career at this point. He is not a PF at this point in his career. With Pau and Dwight on the floor it gives less room for Dwight to operate. If coach MDA started Jamison at the 4 you would see Dwight just go off because there would be sufficient spacing.

Having Pau come off the bench at the 5 would be good as well because it would allow him to get his stats up so his trade value increases and he becomes easier to trade! It's worth a shot at this point.

As for him not being skilled, I think you must be really mad at him LOL! He is extremely skilled and maybe his athleticism has declined, and yes maybe he is fighting tendinitis but it doesn't take away that he can finish with either hand and is an incredible passer. We all saw last year with Bynum who is a below average passer how good Pau is at handling the double team.

I'm not defending Pau but I will say he was used incorrectly all last year and imo this year too. If Mitch could trade him for some decent pieces I'm all for it.

trodgers wrote:Serious question. Is there a recipe for success, for getting the most out of this Gasol? Because, ladies and gents, this is the Gasol we have.

I am at a total and complete loss. If PJ couldn't figure it out, how the hell can Dantoni?

When Nash comes back, he can't do PnR with Pau because Pau won't roll. It'll pick and pop. Problem is Pau HAS been getting open looks from distance and he clanking them.

At this point I am heavily leaning towards Nash won't be able to help Pau grow his balls back. It's not like Pau hasn't been getting good open looks.

That my friend is a pretty freaking BIG problem. When you are open and can't hit we have issues, especially when Pau is completely unwilling to take it to the hole or make any post up moves.

borri wrote:

trodgers wrote:Serious question. Is there a recipe for success, for getting the most out of this Gasol? Because, ladies and gents, this is the Gasol we have.

I am at a total and complete loss. If PJ couldn't figure it out, how the hell can Dantoni?

When Nash comes back, he can't do PnR with Pau because Pau won't roll. It'll pick and pop. Problem is Pau HAS been getting open looks from distance and he clanking them.

At this point I am heavily leaning towards Nash won't be able to help Pau grow his balls back. It's not like Pau hasn't been getting good open looks.

That my friend is a pretty freaking BIG problem. When you are open and can't hit we have issues, especially when Pau is completely unwilling to take it to the hole or make any post up moves.

I'm not sure an "real" analyst thinks Pau can be back at all star level with the addition of Nash. Pau is no longer strong enough to play inside.... that has become more than evident in the last two years. He has a very high center of gravity and has difficulty pushing players half his size around. He's more comfortable shooting and/or passing from outside as well. Nash isn't going to change those facts nor is he going to change them on the defensive end..... one of the little things that is getting overlooked in the "Wait till Nash gets back" banter is the fact that he's not a good defender (team or on ball) and that fact will further put pressure on Pau to rotate, be physical and perform at that end of the floor.....

This isn't because we just saw him last night, but I've always said all along that David West is the perfect pick and pop PF in the game. He would space the floor beautifully for everyone and the guy never seems to miss a mid-range jumper.

Battle Tested20 wrote:This isn't because we just saw him last night, but I've always said all along that David West is the perfect pick and pop PF in the game. He would space the floor beautifully for everyone and the guy never seems to miss a mid-range jumper.

I've been saying this since the trade deadline last year when it was rumored we were interested in Granger..... West complements a true center more than Pau.... and putting West in an offense with Nash....

West makes 10 million I believe.... so is there a way to take some one else off their hands in exchange for Pau? West comes off the books this year I believe as well....

pau seems to flourish with the spanish team where he has space in the paint. play him with some shooters, meeks, jamison, and let's see how it goes.

but no way we take on amare. david west is nice, but he's also not super athletic, and really can only shoot the mid range J. not sure he has any offensive game.

Pig Miller wrote:pau seems to flourish with the spanish team where he has space in the paint. play him with some shooters, meeks, jamison, and let's see how it goes.

I think he also flourished due to not having to match-up against bigger guys like DeMarcus Cousins and Kendrick Perkins. Maybe. He would definitely play better closer to the basket, but if he's getting pushed around, then well, gotta hit those jumpers...

dj vitus wrote:

Pig Miller wrote:pau seems to flourish with the spanish team where he has space in the paint. play him with some shooters, meeks, jamison, and let's see how it goes.

I think he also flourished due to not having to match-up against bigger guys like DeMarcus Cousins and Kendrick Perkins. Maybe. He would definitely play better closer to the basket, but if he's getting pushed around, then well, gotta hit those jumpers...

true about the bigger players. i think if he gets more run with the 2nd unit guys, and subsequently is going against the other teams 2nd unit big guys, that will get him going a bit more.

while i'm all for moving him, i just can't imagine anyone giving us a package of players that will really put us over the top.

dj vitus wrote:

Pig Miller wrote:pau seems to flourish with the spanish team where he has space in the paint. play him with some shooters, meeks, jamison, and let's see how it goes.

I think he also flourished due to not having to match-up against bigger guys like DeMarcus Cousins and Kendrick Perkins. Maybe. He would definitely play better closer to the basket, but if he's getting pushed around, then well, gotta hit those jumpers...

He sure ate Tyson Chandler alive in the Gold Medal game.

just saw a piece on backstage lakers about how pau gives back to the community and how he genuinely enjoys it. too bad hes gonna have to make new relationships in whatever city he gets shipped to soon.

Well, we'll see what Mitch can get for Pau. The magic wand must have its limits, no? I'm still convinced no one wants to pick up Pau's 19 mil price tag. Maybe in the last year of his contract, possibly, but not this year and next.

King of Clutch wrote: lol he's averaging a measly 13.1 ppg and 9.1 rebounds per game

That's > Luis Scola numbers, if we can say our 4th option averages a MEASLEY 13 and 9, we are so blessed... or spoiled

I would take Amare, he can attack & make his j's, he can't be as bad as Pau on defense, or as slow...

GoldenKnight wrote: he can't be as bad as Pau on defense, or as slow...

you would think that but he is and probably worse cause he shouldn't be bad with his speed as oppose to Pau but he gets owned quite bit, I guess Pau hatred must have blinded you from the days when Odom use to pwn Amare on the regular

khmrP wrote:

GoldenKnight wrote: he can't be as bad as Pau on defense, or as slow...

you would think that but he is and probably worse cause he shouldn't be bad with his speed as oppose to Pau but he gets owned quite bit, I guess Pau hatred must have blinded you from the days when Odom use to pwn Amare on the regular

I don't hate Pau, if anything i'm one of his top defenders on this forum. I have just had enough lately. What does Odom owning Amare have to do with anything? Pau gets owned by everyone now adays...

KJ MonK wrote:

King of Clutch wrote: lol he's averaging a measly 13.1 ppg and 9.1 rebounds per game

That's > Luis Scola numbers, if we can say our 4th option averages a MEASLEY 13 and 9, we are so blessed... or spoiled

we're not blessed, we're 7-8

GoldenKnight wrote:

khmrP wrote:

GoldenKnight wrote: he can't be as bad as Pau on defense, or as slow...

you would think that but he is and probably worse cause he shouldn't be bad with his speed as oppose to Pau but he gets owned quite bit, I guess Pau hatred must have blinded you from the days when Odom use to pwn Amare on the regular

I don't hate Pau, if anything i'm one of his top defenders on this forum. I have just had enough lately. What does Odom owning Amare have to do with anything? Pau gets owned by everyone now adays...

you saying he can't be as bad as Pau, I'm saying he's worse....he use to get owned by Odom who isn't some kind of elite PF and this was 3-4yrs ago with less injury and less wear then where Amare is now. He might be less slow footed then Pau but thats his horrible defense even more pathetic as oppose to Pau who has the slow footed excuse

CaCHooKa Man wrote:just saw a piece on backstage lakers about how pau gives back to the community and how he genuinely enjoys it. too bad hes gonna have to make new relationships in whatever city he gets shipped to soon.

just saw that too and I had a few thoughts:

1) Pau is genuinely a good person. No, great person. You can tell he is who he is and it's a truly special human to do what he does. Makes me really love him off the court.

2) He said something that I think demonstrates exactly who he isn't right now.. when describing his history in medicine, he mentioned that since childhood it's been his passion and his dream to be a doctor- to help people. Then basketball sort of took over.

IMO that's exactly what this is. Pau has achieved everything he ever imagined in bball and I think his hearts not in it. It's in other places.