Sunday, April 14, 2013

Why Pau Gasol Would be the Key to L.A. Lakers' Postseason Success

With Kobe Bryant possibly down for the count and the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff chances in seriousAjeopardy, the burden falls on Pau Gasol to direct the Lakers to postseason achievement (via ESPN). Notching up a in the Lakers' win on the Golden State Warriors, Gasol's usefulness is likely to be necessary in trying to fill the chasm left by Bryant's shortage. Through the Lakers' new resurgence, Bryant had taken on the role of facilitator on top of his old-fashioned scoring role. Since he is been taken out of commission and Steve Nash is still working with residual injuries himself, it is on Gasol to function as main facilitator. Through Bryant, the crime was centered around drive-and-kicks and passing out of double teams. Gasol's style of play is far different. Applying both the reduced post and the high post to initiate his offense, Gasol's capabilities as a pivot scorer, as well as his judge vision, permit the offense to be funneled through him. As the pick-and-roll between Nash (after he returns) and among the two big men is just a feasible solution, the Lakers have found the most achievement with Gasol and Dwight Howard running in the high and low articles, respectively. However, this success was founded with most of the interest being diverted onto Bryant. With Kobe out, the security will pay more focus on both of the big guys. Kobe Bryant's injury is a big blow to the Lakers' playoff chances.Jeff Gross/Getty Pictures Dwight Howard hasn't been a functional scorer. May it be through bad rebounds, applying his energy in the color or via the pick-and-roll, his crime relies upon his bodily dominance and athleticism. With defects in his post actions and his capability to build for himself from the post positions, Howard can not be counted to bring the Lakers' crime. While Howard is offensively problematic, Nash has shown flashes of his former home when healthy. However, his injury complications this season makes him an unreliable choice, even when he returns from his most recent injury in respectable sort. Gasol is the Lakers' only hope of mounting any kind of postseason press and attaining any postseason success given his exemplary play since his reunite and the flexibility he gives to the crime. Pau Gasol is a animal ever since returning from his injury.Stephen Dunn/Getty Images Pau is competent enough to produce from the large post and has got the court perspective and passing capability to kick the ball out of double groups. When working under individual insurance, he's the post moves and a good jump shot which will allow him to generate for herself as well. Despite Howard's position as a possible foundation for the Lakers in the post-Kobe period, there is no doubt that for the Lakers to save in 2013, the crime should revolve around Gasol. Nevertheless, Bryant's 27 points per game will soon be very hard to displace, despite a Gasol-centered crime. Howard and Gasol have to lock down the color and the Lakers have to find a solution to correct certainly one of their most obvious flaws. With their perimeter protection generally destroyed with the injury to Bryant and the defensive liabilities their place guards are known to be, it's up to both big men to block the color and take to their best to cover up their weaknesses on the perimeter. But when Gasol is required to point the offense, Howard will probably need certainly to really up his sport on the defensive end. Eventually, while Gasol could be the key to the Lakers' success whilst the gateway on crime, both Gasol and Howard are crucial in making the exact same gigantic frontcourt dynamic Gasol and Andrew Bynum once had in their name run a couple of years ago.

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