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

The Rock · by **The Rock** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:52 am

So Pau is starting...I dont know about this, this is the 1st time I strongly disagree with MDA. We need Pau coming off the bench, if we start the game with both of the bigs they wont get going since they're taking turns as to who gets the ball one possession and who gets it another possession, Pau sees him as a facilitator, we need him to be an aggressive scorer, he can do that coming off the bench Get both of them going separately when they start their minutes. Clark provided a lot of mobility upfront and you're gonna lose that now

Chillbongo · by **Chillbongo** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:58 am

Clark is gassed.

We need to be able to rely on Pau, and like real said we're going to need to play Dwight/Pau together to win in the playoffs.

Just because he's starting doesn't mean he's going to play 30 minutes with Dwight. Clark will come in before the 6 minute mark unless Gasol is just beasting

The Rock · by **The Rock** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:03 am

Well we know how defenses operate, they're gonna leave Pau open for the 13 to 15 footer, he hasn't been hitting them consistently in 2-3 yrs, once thats not falling he only looks to pass and throws up soft shots which then leads to affecting the rest of his game (Defense) and then MDA sits him late in the 4th and Pau pouts, round and round we go. Pau can pass and he can provide more congestion in the paint for defense I guess but we're losing mobility, ball handling and a shooting advantage if Pau starts the game. If he comes off the bench he will be the primary scorer, no facilitating nada, he'll be looking to score and not worrying about getting the ball to Kobe or Dwight in their sweet spots.

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:06 am

The Rock wrote:but we're losing mobility, ball handling and a shooting advantage if Pau starts the game.

Clark hasn't provided those things for us on a consistent basis for a good 2-3 weeks now. The thing that Earl does the best right now: rebounding. And Gasol is better at that than Clark is.

Chillbongo · by **Chillbongo** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:08 am

Yeah, it's tough to play Pau with another paint-dweller.

We've made it work before. Pau is still more effective around the basket than Dwight (when it comes to shot creation). Hopefully Mike or whoever is doing the coaching realizes that we should probably go inside and inside only to start the game off. To start, throw in to Dwight and Pau, let them operate.

You also have to remember Pau excelled and is trained to run the offense a la the Triangle. A read and react offense. So while people hate him for passing, he usually makes a great pass but definitely over does it at some points.

Anyways, assuming Pau is healthy look for the game to start off going inside to Dwight/Pau possibly even running a two man game.

lakerfan2 · by **lakerfan2** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:23 am

What they need to run is the post screen where Dwight sets a screen for Pau in the post and Dwight just rolls/slips to the rim for an oop. It's worked with Kobe a few times, it' something they can run.

gcclaker · by **gcclaker** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:24 am

True only IF and WHEN the wing players and the backcourt DECIDE to feed the post. Agree that Gasol has a more refined inside game. He is deferential enough to pass it down to Howard as his first option too.

The Rock · by **The Rock** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:32 am

One good thing I'll take out of this is less Clark at PF/C I suppose, he got wore out by the big guys there.

dwighthowardsdad · by **dwighthowardsdad** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:33 am

Pau's a great passer and has the ability to play from the high-post & hit the perimeter shot. However, the best he has played over the course of the season is right before he went down with the injury; that's when he was playing closer to the basket because Dwight wasn't playing in those games. As versatile as Gasol is and can be, I still think his bread & butter is his ability to play closer to the basket at this point in his career.

Therein lies the problem with this starting lineup of Nash, Gasol, Dwight, Metta, & Kobe. 4 out of those 5 operate best inside the paint & all like to work from the free-throw line extended down. Our only reliable three-point shooter has been Nash. Metta & Kobe have struggled at different points with their shot from that range.

This will come down to coaching to make this work if it even does. MDA will have to find the best starting units that fit together to make this work until the end of the season heading into the PO's...

bystander · by **bystander** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:43 am

Lakerjones · by **Lakerjones** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:50 am

^^ Nice gif and photo Bystander! I'm really stoked to have Pau back in the mix even if he's going to have to work off the rust for some games.

dwighthowardsdad wrote:Pau's a great passer and has the ability to play from the high-post & hit the perimeter shot. However, the best he has played over the course of the season is right before he went down with the injury; that's when he was playing closer to the basket because Dwight wasn't playing in those games. As versatile as Gasol is and can be, I still think his bread & butter is his ability to play closer to the basket at this point in his career.

Therein lies the problem with this starting lineup of Nash, Gasol, Dwight, Metta, & Kobe. 4 out of those 5 operate best inside the paint & all like to work from the free-throw line extended down. Our only reliable three-point shooter has been Nash. Metta & Kobe have struggled at different points with their shot from that range.

This will come down to coaching to make this work if it even does. MDA will have to find the best starting units that fit together to make this work until the end of the season heading into the PO's...

^^ All really true stuff. To me it's all a good problem to have, though. I'd rather have Pau than not. And with Clark's huge drop off in production it couldn't come at a better time.

To have an embarrassment of riches in terms of possible post players is something other coaches would dream about but sadly it's a challenge for MDA. Nonetheless, I think or at least hope that he will find some balance out there on the court with minutes and roles for these guys.

I'm just happy to have close to our full squad back again, even though they're still not at 100% health.

bystander · by **bystander** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:11 pm

Mini Training Camp while being in the race for the playoffs, develop chemistry and left nothing in the tank during the playoffs, that's they only thing these guys must do this season.

Lakerjones · by **Lakerjones** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:17 pm

bystander wrote:Mini Training Camp while being in the race for the playoffs, develop chemistry and left nothing in the tank during the playoffs, that's they only thing these guys must do this season.

^^ Agreed. It's been a tough season with almost no time together on the court for the big 4. Hopefully we can get it together quickly. Luckily we've been playing some pretty good ball to get this far back into the playoff hunt. Can't wait to see what they can do together as a full team. But I am tempering expectations until they have some experience under the belt as a unit.

Rooscooter · by **Rooscooter** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:34 pm

dj vitus wrote:I understand the Pau hate.

No Pau "hate" here.... just an opinion based on what I've seen and heard him say about his position on this team.

The thought that Pau's issues are based just on his injuries is a little short sighted IMO. I've pointed out why... I don't need to do it again.

His ability to play defense against PF's is essentially gone... maybe some of it's injury related but then he'd have to have been injured for the last 2.5 years for that to be the only reason.

I just don't think the Pau of 2009 is coming through that door to sweep us to victory. He had a stretch where he played well every other game or so before his foot blew up but I wouldn't go so far as to say he was playing "well" for any length of time consistently. Maybe he can be the 6th man type but I've never seen that desire to want to score 12 straight points or dominate in short stretches which is what we need off the bench. Even when we had Odom he was rarely out there as a primary scorer and when he was we usually had to get Kobe back in the game because no one could score. Pau takes a similar approach to the game as Odom..... passive and pass first. We desperately need that guy that wants to score 12 to 15 in 18 to 22 minutes off the bench. That's why I have tempered expectations that Pau off the bench is going to magically change this team. I sincerely hope I'm wrong about this as well.... in the right situation he's still a valuable player... not for 19 million or on a team that needs him to be a "black swan" however......

lakerfan2 · by **lakerfan2** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 1:16 pm

^ Jamison is supposed to be that guy, and has shown in some games to do so. He just hasn't done so consistently enough, on the road I guess. Antawn also can't create for himself, so it's between him and Blake to carry the bench, which is not really ideal.

Ideally, we need a creator off the bench a la Jamal Crawford, JR Smith, Aaron Brooks..those type of players who can find the basket without needing to be assisted. Yes, they may be "chuckers", but they are productive bench guys. Pau CAN be that guy. Does he want to? According to his comments this year, I don't think so.

This year has been a big learning experience for everyone. Pau has a lot of pride, but in order for this team to succeed, he's going to have to swallow that pride or transfer that pride to lead the bench a la Ginobili. If Pau can buy into that role, I think we have a fine chance at succeeding in the post season. Offensively, I think he should finish games. Nash, Kobe, Metta, Pau, Dwight. Defensively, Blake, Kobe, Metta, Earl, Howard.

LTLakerFan · by **LTLakerFan** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 2:17 pm

You guys are going to mock me but I have insider information that Dan, since he is so adverse to playing them together, is from now on going to make Dwight a "stretch 4" and put Pau down low with his better skills around the hoop. Honest....don't shoot the messenger.

D.B. Cooper · by **D.B. Cooper** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 2:21 pm

Interesting..... so long Dwight.

jOeyB7000 · by **jOeyB7000** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 3:08 pm

LTLakerFan wrote:You guys are going to mock me but I have insider information that Dan, since he is so adverse to playing them together, is from now on going to make Dwight a "stretch 4" and put Pau down low with his better skills around the hoop. Honest....don't shoot the messenger.

I'm not going to mock you. I can actually see this happening.

Not using Dwight as a "stretch 4" and shooting 3s, but having Gasol occupy the low block and having Dwight play off him on the weak side of the floor. This allows D12 to use his athleticism to his advantage. He can still crash the offensive boards and get points off of putbacks.

This will also give Gasol more space to operate since Dwight's man can't leave him to double team Gasol. They also can't leave Nash or Kobe to double, so the weak link is Metta's 3pt shooting.

If Gasol can get back to the Gasol that played for Spain, it might just work. If he comes back and is White Swan Gasol, then he becomes a hell of a back up C and nothing more.

Either way, we are a better team with Gasol than without.

karacha · by **karacha** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 3:13 pm

Dwight is one of the best stretch PFs in the league. Killer mid-range shot, can take few dribbles before shooting it, has that Dirk-style fade-away off one foot with the knee going up to get separation etc. His three point shooting is not that great. He only shot 20% for three this year, but he can get better by the playoffs. No worries. He'll stretch the floor for his teammates. :man9:

ThizGuy83 · by **ThizGuy83** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 3:43 pm

karacha wrote:Dwight is one of the best stretch PFs in the league. Killer mid-range shot, can take few dribbles before shooting it, has that Dirk-style fade-away off one foot with the knee going up to get separation etc. His three point shooting is not that great. He only shot 20% for three this year, but he can get better by the playoffs. No worries. He'll stretch the floor for his teammates.

i better add dirk to my sig... greatest center of all time now can play stretch 4!! :jam2:

LTLakerFan · by **LTLakerFan** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 4:16 pm

both you guys....

FabFourLakers · by **FabFourLakers** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 4:43 pm

Well, there's one good thing about MDA starting Pau...it will give Pau confidence. MDA is saying hey, i'm going to start you, like you always wanted, so go out there and DELIVER. So now the jury is out on PAU...can he deliver?

I just don't want our defense to suffer because of Pau being too slow on rotations. I hope everything just falls into place....we need Pau/Dwight/Kobe/Nash to play together if we want to have our best chance at winning anything.

Rooscooter · by **Rooscooter** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 4:54 pm

FabFourLakers wrote:....we need Pau/Dwight/Kobe/Nash to play together if we want to have our best chance at winning anything.

We need them to play at there best..... It doesn't necessarily mean that they play at the same time.

I'd say that those four are not matched that well and it's better to split them up. I'm not sure why its so important to start.....

LTLakerFan · by **LTLakerFan** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 5:55 pm

You guys all do realize Pau is coming back off of tough injury in that arch and bottom of his foot which allows the running, jumping and all that crazy stuff. :man12:

If he doesn't beast right off the bat tonight let's give a teeny bit of slack and encouragement as long as the effort and attitude are good. He has to get in some semblence of shape too. Look how long it's taken Dwight to not be gassed (at least for him...gassed) :beer:

D.B. Cooper · by **D.B. Cooper** on Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:50 pm

I saw one jumper for sure, I started watching mid way through the 2nd Q so I'm not sure if I missed others.

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

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