Tex Winter Talks Gasol

The triangle offense has long been known as a difficult adjustment for players coming to the Los Angeles Lakers. But Tex Winter, the guru of that offense, says that post players have the easiest time adjusting. It stands to reason. Post players don’t have to do all the passing and cutting and reading that forwards and guards do in the triangle. Post players merely have to get in position to get the ball in the right position, which is often point-blank range.”Our offense is predicated on someone scoring inside, on our getting the ball inside,” Winter explained in a phone interview. “It’s a center-in, post-up offense.”

That’s why Kwame Brown, for all of his defensive quickness, wasn’t much help. That’s why Winter didn’t like the idea of getting a Ben Wallace from Chicago to bolster the Lakers frontcourt. Neither offered someone for guard Kobe Bryant to play off of.

It’s easy, then, to understand why Winter’s elated at the trade for center/forward Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. “Gasol’s a real player, particularly offensively,” Winter confirmed. “He knows how to score. He’s got great hands, and he’ll fit in nicely too. We can get him the ball in position where he has the opportunity.” With the development of center Andrew Bynum before his recent knee injury, Kobe Bryant reminded Lakers fans that he knows well how to play off a big man who can catch and score.

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