The addition of coach Mike D’Antoni has already begun to produce some issues for the Los Angeles Lakers. Big men Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol have seen their production take a nose dive. Gasol’s conditioning has also been questioned as to whether or not he can keep up with D’Antoni’s fast paced offense. Gasol’s feels he’s not getting the right looks and they just seem to be at odds. Last night the Lakers took a 106-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies with Gasol siting down the stretch. According to D’Antoni he did that so he could win the game. Read more after the jump.
Gasol sat for the entire fourth quarter during the Lakers loss last night which was sure to raise some eyebrows but D’Antoni’s response raised even more. Why did D’Antoni sit Pau down the stretch? “I was thinking I’d like to win this game, that’s what I was thinking,” said D’Antoni. Gasol had picked up his fourth foul with just over a minute left in the third quarter when he went to the bench, and he never returned. He said he couldn’t remember the last time he didn’t play an entire fourth quarter.
Gasol also complained about how many touches he got and where he got them. “I’m getting most all my looks as jump shots,” Gasol said. “I would like to see something close to the basket, and not just by rolling – especially when Dwight is there. But we’ll see. We’ll figure it out. We just started, pretty much.”
Gasol also said: “How I get going is by getting in the paint and creating off the post and things like that. That’s historically how I’ve been very successful and how I’ve made a really good name for myself and earned my contracts. But hopefully I’ll find a way or we’ll find a way to get me a few opportunities there, too, and to get myself going that way and to be more effective.”
“Maybe the rotation should be a little bit shorter. That would help, too. Instead of playing 12 minutes straight, play eight. Come out, rest four – get another eight. Stuff like that. Maybe that would help. But again, that’s not totally up to me.”
Gasol did acknowledge he and other Lakers probably aren’t in ideal conditioning to play at the ongoing faster pace requested by D’Antoni. But then Gasol followed that by offering that suggestion about the rotation.
When asked about the Gasol’s complaints and the state of the Lakers offense, Kobe replied: “It is still a work in progress as far as trying to figure out what we’re doing. We are trying to figure out a balance of when we want to attack. Getting up and down is obviously a big part of it, which we are still trying to work on. It is a balance. If he (Gasol) feels like he needs more touches, then we will give him some.” Kobe also said: “I don’t think it’s really a big deal.”
Quotes c/o Kevin Ding of the OC Register
