82 replies to this topic

[Goku]

So we are going to make the playoffs. It is not a matter of if or how. Kobe the Vino guaranteed it, and the process is going smoothly. We have to start thinking about what could happen when we get there. D'Antoni's 8-men rotation has worked well once it settled. Meeks, Jamison and Blake started to contribute, and actually impact the game. We know they aren't perfect but we love them. Therefore, a 7'0 ft question arises! How will Pau be used in this current working system? We don't know how his conditioning will be when he finally gets the nod to play, but let's say we're thinking of a timetable that he'll be 100% ready when the playoffs kick in.

 

How can we use him in this system, In 8-men rotation ?

 

If we restrict Jamison and Clark's playing time, how will they respond on the court? 

 

How will offense flow? With Kobe taking a step back in playmaking duties, Blake and Nash are doing a good job. Will Pau's 'reluctant to shoot but willing to pass' mentality bring the early inconsistencies back?

 

Discuss.

 

[-Wade-]

Leave him as 6th man for a few games and see how he is doing, then consider bringing him back to the starting 5. But let's not change anything that is working for us.

 

I'd like Pau to be used down low, I like his finesse 5 feet from the basket, but understand Dwight takes up a lot of space. I'd hope they can work together more effectively, but I hardly know what I'm talking about when it comes to doing the coach's job..

[KB_24]

on the floor and clark on the bench... 

[LakersGAFan]

How to use Pau when he returns?

That's the $19,000,000 question isn't it?

[MDI]

Like the Knicks use Amare

Don't start him no matter what, please. The less him & Dwight are on the court together at the same time, the better.

[Cj2008nw]

Funny Thing is we don't need him to win games he's been out for a while and we've been wining majority of our games lol ,but if he can learn to do what's best for the team and actually contribute than that would definitely be a bonus for us

[jax24]

Off the bench!!!

[Majesty]

Off the bench center while dwight is on the bench, blake at 1, jamison at 4, Pau at 5. 2 and 3 interchangable with starters and Meeks.

Thats a fine bench unit. If anything Pau should add to their scoring and find them open shots but first he'd need to score to get defensive attention.

So we should use him as the bench 5 and have him play sparing minutes with Dwight for some high low plays, but he MUST be aggressive.

[MAMBA24ILL]

Kobe knows how to use him. 

[r9too]

Fine to keep him off the bench but definitely needs to play at least 30+ a game. I'd like the team to always have one of Nash and kobe paired up with one of Howard and gasol, and we should never have both gasol and Howard off the floor at same time, please enough of the idiotic Clark at the 5 nonsense.

[TKainZero]

When Pau comes back he will be the backup Center...

 

Earl Clark and Jameson are not viable canidates to play center... i dont know how dantoine gets away with it...

[Scooter123]

I don't think the race to playoffs is going smoothly. 

 

Nor do I think we will see Pao again this year.  Having had that exact injury, he's got another month of rehab, and a couple weeks of conditioning and practing.  By then, the season will be over. 

[SuPeRmAoR]

Use him like we used to use lamar, bring him off the bench and let him clise out the game at the 4 depending on whos has the better gane between metta and clark. Theyll run the 3 or you could even stick kobe at the 3 and meeks at the 2 if you wanna go hi low and spread the floor. Thats what i would do

[bfc1125roy]

Bench 5 as they should until he proves he deserves a larger role. 

[Majesty]

Use him like we used to use lamar, bring him off the bench and let him clise out the game at the 4 depending on whos has the better gane between metta and clark. Theyll run the 3 or you could even stick kobe at the 3 and meeks at the 2 if you wanna go hi low and spread the floor. Thats what i would do

Thats pretty much what we were doing, but first bringing him in to sub for Dwight and it seemed to be working great before he hurt himself.

[DanishLakerFan]

Let him come off the bench until he is fully recovered and then, if its possible, try to work him into the lineup. I think the only way we have a chance in the playoffs (if we even make it that far) is to play Howard AND Gasol at the same time. Going big is the only way to beat all the small/fast teams.

I also think D'Antoni should stagger the minutes a lot more. Earlier he (D'Antoni) have had only 1 starter on the floor at the time, which to me is insane. When we're not using 3 or 4 of our Big-4, i think we should either have Kobe-Pau or Nash-Howard on the floor. That will put constant pressure on any defense.

[Mastas]

He will be our official erotic Chest Bumper

[r9too]

gasol is the key for the lakers making a deep play playoff run. If we can integrate him back into the offense in the last 10-15 games, and we play through him in the post, it will make the lakers much more lethal and dangerous in the half court set. Without gasol, we are relying too heavily on kobe and nash to create for others. Gasol can facilitate the offense from the high/low post, and is still one of the best passing big men in the league. 

[Windu]

Don't allow him entry into the arena.