^^^ Very nice numbers. What will be more telling, though (IMO), will be Kobe's 4th quarter stats as we head into the home stretch of the season. Now that Kobe has a legitimate 2nd scoring option on the squad, I'm betting that he'll be more rested in the fourth stanza of games.
But let's take a look at Gasol's #'s since the trade. This year, while playing for Memphis, Gasol averaged:
18.9 ppg / 50.1 FG% / 8.8 rpg / 3 apg / 1.4 bpg
Very nice numbers.
But since the trade to the Lakers, Gasol's #'s are:
21.9 ppg / 65.1 FG% / 7.4 rpg / 2.5 apg / 1.3 bpg
So, Gasol has raised his scoring average by 3 whole points while shooting a sizzling hot 65% from the field. This is despite the fact that he's averaging 1 less shot per game and he's the 2nd scoring option instead of the #1. I won't make excuses for the decrease in boardwork, but with rebounding being Odom's primary responsibility, I'm sure that that may be a factor.
I think that it's fair to say that this trade has been great for both players.
Thank god for Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, and Jordan Farmar and Ronny Turiaf to lesser degrees. All these guys are tough as nails, competitors, and mentally tough.
Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 1627 Location: North Hollywood, CA
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:
i wouldnt call rebounding odoms responsibility, pau's a center and hes the inside man and needs to box out and grab the boards, especually on the offense. odom is doing so great though, its great to see such a good guy get whats due.
i wouldnt call rebounding odoms responsibility, pau's a center and hes the inside man and needs to box out and grab the boards, especually on the offense. odom is doing so great though, its great to see such a good guy get whats due.
Well, when I say that "Odom's responsibilty" is rebounding, I mean that he's not really being relied upon to do much of anything else. He's doesn't have the be the 3rd scoring option (let alone the 2nd); he's not counted on for perimeter shooting; he doesn't run the offense; and, he's not asked to lock up anyone of defense. There are players on this roster (albeit some injured) that can do all of these things much better than he.
What he is asked to do, however, is to hit the boards (which happens to be his best attribute as a player). What you will find with odom is that the less responsibility (and pressure) he has on a team, the better he plays.
i wouldnt call rebounding odoms responsibility, pau's a center and hes the inside man and needs to box out and grab the boards, especually on the offense. odom is doing so great though, its great to see such a good guy get whats due.
Odom is expected to rebound solidly every game, thus making it his responsibility. Pau should also be responsible for his share, which at this point isn't much. Pau is pooring in points and being efficient.
Odom doesn't want to be the second scoring option, then Pau has to be that. Odom needs to rebound, which he does exceptionally well, and he needs to score when able.
All big men should be able to rebound, but some just don't do it well. Lamar does, so he needs to continue.
I can guarantee that if Odom wasn't so good at it, he'd probably be gone by now.
Gasol is making everybody around him better, period.
I use to think Lamar is a kind of star role player, without the pressure to produce his numbers are up and he's showing some consistency.
The only problem with Lamar is the amount of money he earns for the role he can florish in the system. Maybe he can feel it's fine to have a long term deal starting around 7 to 8M, so it's a no brainer to keep him.
MVP! Is Pau Gasol not the perfect compliment to Kobe Bryant?
I think they compliment each other VERY well for sure!
I just hope that the MVP voters see how easy Kobe has made the game for Pau. He's shooting 1 less shot per game. He's averaging a crazy FG% of 65%. He's probably not doing anything crazy different than when he was on Memphis, but with so much attention defenses have to put on Kobe, Pau gets so many easier looks at the basket and capitalizing on them. _________________ Just chill and watch the new Dynasty evolve...
Time for the Lakers to create a whole new legacy! We want 10 more trophies boys!
Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 18738 Location: L.A County, 26 miles away from Staples Center
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject:
Pau Gasol coming to the Lakers to Kobe is like you are getting picked on by the school bullys(Suns,Spurs) for a couple of weeks(years), and you get fed up with getting your a$$ kicked.
So you call for backup from your best friend from another school(Memphis) and you guys give the a$$ kicking(Jermiane O'Neal style punches like the rumble in Detroit) instead of recieving it.
Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 2189 Location: In my skin
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject:
Lamar is up 1.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 13% points on his fg's (62%) and he's shooting 65% on threes (10/16) in the 8 games since Pau's joined the team...
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 36203 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:
Yeah, since he got a proper tape job, he's been on fire. If you count from when he got a proper tape job, it would be above 32 PPG. I hope he can keep this up! He's playing like an MVP.
Lamar is up 1.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 13% points on his fg's (62%) and he's shooting 65% on threes (10/16) in the 8 games since Pau's joined the team...
THAT IS REAL SURPRIZING!!!
Actually, I checked: Odom is 6 - 11 on 3 pointers (54.4 %).
Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 2085 Location: Santa Barbara / Davis
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:46 am Post subject:
JUST-MING wrote:
cinimod wrote:
Lamar is up 1.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 13% points on his fg's (62%) and he's shooting 65% on threes (10/16) in the 8 games since Pau's joined the team...
THAT IS REAL SURPRIZING!!!
Actually, I checked: Odom is 6 - 11 on 3 pointers (54.4 %).
still impressive. _________________ bonerkillcollective.tumblr.com - peep our art.
That's what happens when you have a true 2nd option. It frees up your 1st option so much more. Gasol filled that role everyone hoped Lamar would but couldn't.
That's what happens when you have a (an All-Star caliber Center/Forward). It frees up your (talented perimeter players) so much more. Gasol filled that role everyone hoped Lamar would but couldn't.
When Bynum or Gasol play at this level, not only is Kobe better, but Kobe and LO and the shooters are better. Why? Same reason LA won with Shaq in his prime and Kobe playing at this level.
They had someone who could get them highly effecient plays inside, and the opposing teams would stop trying to use their bigs to clog up the middle vs dribble penetration in fear of the Lakers bigman being open.
Not that hard, to understand.
It's not just any 20 ppg scorer that would make this happen. Remember Caron Butler? It had to be a big, and we saw that earlier with AB, and now with PG. Kobe and a 20 ppg big inside works beautifully. No arguments there.
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and watch the new Dynasty evolve...
