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[MDI]

Lakers' Gasol tries to put the Pau in power forward





Kobe: 'He’s got everybody fooled. He’s very intense.'
By JANIS CARR
The Orange County Register
Comments 2 | Recommend 1

Maybe it’s the scruffy beard or soft tones Pau Gasol uses when he speaks. Perhaps it’s his genteel manner that doesn’t waver whether he’s talking to reporters or kids.

It also could be the way Gasol, at times, finesses his way to the basket rather than bulldoze through defenders or his penchant for the beach lifestyle.

Whether it’s his voice or slender build, Gasol has made an impression with Lakers watchers and it certainly hasn’t been as an enforcer.

The 7-foot power forward is notoriously shy about contact around the basket, isn’t a beast on the boards and can be outmuscled on post-ups. He’s never been ejected from a game and rarely fouls out.

But that doesn’t mean he’s a softie, either. Not when he puts his mind to it.

“He’s got everybody fooled,” Kobe Bryant said. “He’s very intense…. Pau’s not a quiet guy by any means. When he plays, he’s very intense, very focused. He has a high basketball IQ and that’s always a plus.”

Gasol admitted that off the court, he prefers a more laid-back approach, hanging out at the beach and eating sushi. But on the court, he’s a different person.

“I have a lot of fire in me, passion in me, a lot of heart once I step on the floor,” Gasol said. “Then I get into a mood where I’m super aggressive and the whole thing changes. I enjoy it because I feel confident enough to where I feel I can dominate and be one of the top players in the world.”

Gasol’s reputation took a pounding during the NBA Finals, when his defensive effort seemed to ebb and flow against the Celtics. He averaged 14.7 points and 10.2 rebounds (8.2 defensive boards) but still the Celtics outrebounded the Lakers overall, 42.2 to 37.2 a game.

Even when he was with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Spaniard didn’t always appear interested in playing defense but dialed it up once he came to the Lakers last season in a mid-season trade. He averaged 8.4 rebounds and 1.48 blocked shots in 66 games with the Lakers.

Yet during the NBA Finals, Gasol’s interest in defense seemingly waned and Kevin Garnett used that to help the Celtics garner the title.

“Anybody who thinks that I’m soft or not as strong, they can feel free to come check me out or challenge me to a game because I am aggressive when I want to be aggressive,” Gasol said. “I can be pretty hard to stop. I don’t care whose guarding me or facing me.”

There’s little doubt the Lakers advanced as far as they did last season because of the added dimension Gasol gave the offense. He is a talented shooter and nimble passer, which has taken some of the burden off Bryant, and his quickness makes it difficult for opposing big men to beat him off the dribble.

But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a force in the middle. He simply doesn’t use brute force.

“I’m a skilled player, a finesse player,” he said. “I always used to be a small forward growing up until I was 19, then I played power forward. My NBA career has been successful because I have been aggressive.”

[daco_inc]

"I am aggressive when I want to be aggressive"

I hate when players say things like this, because then the opposite is also true, that you aren't always aggreessive when you don't want to be aggressive.

[MDI]

"I am aggressive when I want to be aggressive"

I hate when players say things like this, because then the opposite is also true, that you aren't always aggreessive when you don't want to be aggressive.

I think what he means is, he wants to play smart and play within limits and not force the issue

[last stand 2.0]

i still can't believe pau is a laker

espeecially after all that fuss about kobe in barcelona hanging out with pau everyone thought it was a sign

[Kenrae]

"I am aggressive when I want to be aggressive"

I hate when players say things like this, because then the opposite is also true, that you aren't always aggreessive when you don't want to be aggressive.

Uh? You haven't studied logic, don't you? Just because something is true that doesn't mean that the opposite is true.

[Imadogg]

Lmao at the pic

[daco_inc]

Uh? You haven't studied logic, don't you? Just because something is true that doesn't mean that the opposite is true.

Actually yes I have. Extensively both in Philosophy and in electrical circuits.

[Kenrae]

Actually yes I have. Extensively both in Philosophy and in electrical circuits.

Then you must know what a modus ponens is.

[netlord]

"I am aggressive when I want to be aggressive"

I hate when players say things like this, because then the opposite is also true, that you aren't always aggreessive when you don't want to be aggressive.

But those are players with low basket IQ, not Pau.

[Sakata Gintoki]

“Anybody who thinks that I’m soft or not as strong, they can feel free to come check me out or challenge me to a game because I am aggressive when I want to be aggressive,” Gasol said. “I can be pretty hard to stop. I don’t care whose guarding me or facing me.”

Epic.

[piXie]

i can't wait for him to give us an example of what he's talking about!!!

lets go...i hope he's fired up!!!