Comments on: Pau Gasol says he’ll accept bench role, will not ask for trade

By: omniusprime

omniusprime — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:16:53 +0000

Pau Gasol shows he’s a team player, unlike Lamar Odom who threw a childish tantrum and demanded to be traded away when he heard trade rumors about him. . Only total morons would want Gasol traded away. It’s not like the Lakers are bound to get a better player than Pau if they trade him and he is crucial to the Lakers as their second big man who can mat ch up against teams with good multiple big men.

Think of Pau Gasol as Laker’s insurance policy considering Howard’s shoulder is hurting. If Howard can’t play at least we have Gasol to step into the center role.

Of late Pau seems more energized, maybe being demoted has lit a fire under his rear so he plays harder. I still think that Pau is a starter and Earl Clark is a bench guy. It’s a shame the Lakers don’t have a coach intelligent enough to know how to properly use Gasol.

Go Gasol!!! Fire Dumbtoni!!!

By: loungefly74

loungefly74 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:57:00 +0000

it was either legler or kerr. and i totally agree..

By: mytthor

mytthor — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:35:10 +0000

I heard someone say this the other day, and I forget who it was; but if Many Ginobili can come off the bench, so can Pau Gasol. It’s not like he’s going to get 14 minutes a game.

By: 00maltliquor

00maltliquor — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:08:26 +0000

It’s real cool to see someone so commited to franchise and willing to do whatever it takes to stay in a purp n gold jersey, and not ask for a trade.

By: progress2011

progress2011 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 01:59:55 +0000

You know, I have always liked Pau’s game and I know he’s trying to be “politically correct/ be the bigger man/ be a gentleman etc etc. etc.

BUT he has gotta MAN UP !!!

I mean….enough is enough. He is still one of the best big men in the league based on:
1. Knowledge of the game
2. Fundamentals (passing, working within the structure of the offense, inside and outside shot making)
3. Length/ Size
4. Footwork and agility etc. etc. etc.

EVERY OTHER TEAM IN THE LEAGUE…would not even consider in a million years, to have him come off the bench !

Knowing that….why continue to be the fall guy and take all the blame for:
1. Bad Ownership decision (firing / hiring coaches)
2. Hiring a coach that doesn’t have the offense for this type of older team
3. Selfish players unwilling to play CONSISTENT team ball

Pau is a MAX CONTRACT player on EVERY other team! He would be a One or Two Option on most all other teams.

If I were Pau….It’s time to get the wrench out of the shed and drop it directly into the stalled out engine…known as the FAKERS !!!

By: Foul Dwimmerlaik

Foul Dwimmerlaik — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:22:43 +0000

The Triangle is a perfect fit for a player like Gasol. That system is where Pau would flourish. Not just in scoring but even more importantly in assist. You can see and feel Pau’s self-worth brimming with pride every time he makes a successful play via a well-placed pass.

By: Foul Dwimmerlaik

Foul Dwimmerlaik — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:19:58 +0000

Indeed! I was thinking in the same line of thought. Manu never made an issue about it, and quite frankly it never diminished his value as a player. In fact, even if he is coming off the bench, I dare say that he is even still a better player than some starters of other teams.

By: bknowledge

bknowledge — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:13:03 +0000

I’d like to see a bet between Kobe and Dwight for $1,000,0000…If Dwight leads the league in rebounding for the rest of the season he wins…if Kobe is top 3 in assists the rest of the season, he wins…

By: bjerkrulez

bjerkrulez — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:07:47 +0000

Sheesh…even michael jordan came off the bench for the wizards without any complaints

By: loungefly74

loungefly74 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:07:36 +0000

whoa…i am boogieing down to aboogy’s comment! well said, sir! i think what you said pretty much ends that debate.

i think it was steve kerr(?) on espn saying, “if manu ginnobli never had an issue coming off the bench, then why should pau?” that is a very valid strong point. manu understands team success is the most vital ingredient to the season.

By: cosanostra71

cosanostra71 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:38:55 +0000

If the right offer came along then you’d have to trade him, but I just think he holds more value to the Lakers right now than he does to any other team so I doubt that happens. I hope they keep him, he’s a great player to watch and his skill set is not replicable by anyone else on the Lakers roster.

By: klownboy

klownboy — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:15:04 +0000

Gasol wouldn’t even be trade bait if the Lakers hired Phil Jackson to return – or at least a derivative in Brian Shaw – to coach the team. Both Jackson and Shaw know how to use Gasol from last season, and get him to mesh better with Howard.
http://wp.me/p1gCK6-vL

By: greenejoemean

greenejoemean — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:04:18 +0000

passive people make passive decisions

By: fruitcovejag

fruitcovejag — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:54:01 +0000

Gasol has always been a team player. Dwight, are you watching this? Take notes!

By: aboogy123456

aboogy123456 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:52:58 +0000

With Jordan Hill out, the lakers can’t afford to trade pau this year. They need him as their backup center and they will be too small without him. He also makes dwight howard better because he does a great job finding him in the post, and he makes up for the fact that Dwight picks up a lot of fouls and has to sit out sometimes. Also, because Pau is an expensive player in his 30′s, the actual talent they could trade him for won’t be as good. Lakers need him or they will have no inside post presence.

By: sportsnut101

sportsnut101 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:43:43 +0000

Only way he gets traded is for another bad contract. Man to get paid 19 mill a year just to score 11 points n 7 bds a game. Why I counldnt I be 7ft.