Power Forward Positional Preview
There's something you need to prepare yourself for. We all need to prepare for it. Fans, players, rich and powerful bloggers... all of us connected with the Los Angeles Lakers are going to see our view of the world soon rearranged in a way that no one has really started talking about.
It mightn't be easy for people to accept. To be honest, it's likely to be a bit awkward and emotional. But it's going to happen, and I'm here to assure you that it's not necessarily a bad thing.
Sometime soon - within the next three seasons, I'm willing to bet - Kobe Bryant will no longer be the best player on the Lakers. That accolade will instead belong to Senor Pau Gasol.
When you think about it, this really isn't such a big-... *dodges rocks thrown at head*... hey, knock it off! There's no need to get viol-... *takes cinderblock to face*... gah, those edges are sharp! *runs and hides behind couch like little baby*
Just let me explain, OK?
What I'm talking about here is age. The great march of time that ravages us all. As Chris pointed out in his preview of the shooting-guard position, Kobe is now 31. Although his decline phase hasn't really kicked in yet and will likely be a gentle downward glide path when it does, it will indeed commence sooner than any of us would like. It happens to everyone, right? Take me, for example. I, too, am in my 30s, and I realize that sometime in the near future I'll simply be too old to attend high school proms. Which is fine, it really is! We should all endeavor to age gracefully, even at the cost of one's social life.
Pau Gasol
Pau is two years younger than Kobe and entirely capable of making up for any slippage in the latter's game. Already established as one of the league's top power forwards before the 2008-09 season began, he put together a dazzling campaign that solidified his standing as a true megatalent. If his numbers have never quite reached the heights of a Kevin Garnett or Dirk Nowitzki, he's nonetheless a better fit for the Lakers' system than would be anyone else from the power-forward pantheon.
What became clear as last year wore on is that the Triangle works best, and is at times unstoppable, when it operates Pau-centrically. His height, vision and passing touch can dice up even the best defenses, as we saw in the Finals against Orlando. He has McHale/Duncan-caliber post moves and a gentle, accurate shooting touch out to the free-throw line. Every Laker should have a GET THE BALL TO PAU screensaver installed on his laptop.
Defensively, Gasol has the length and quick-twitch agility to harass opposing big men of all varieties. If Andrew Bynum is healthy - please pause to perform a superstitious ritual of your choosing - Pau won't have to guard opposing centers nearly so much as he has done, but he's proven that he can handle the work if necessary. (See: Howard, Dwight.) He can also handle "Stretch Fours" a la Sheed and Dirk, although the Lakers' defensive structure keeps him pretty close to the paint most of the time.
At 29 years old, Pau isn't likely to get significantly better than he already is, so it's not reasonable to think that there's, say, an MVP award in his future. What he is, though, is awfully damn good. He'd be the best player on about 20 teams, and he should still be performing at this level in a couple years, when Kobe will begin the transition to second-banana status. (Pau's contract expires in the summer of 2011, but I can't imagine Jerry Buss not extending him.)
Hey, I know it'll be weird - publicly and spiritually, the Lakers will be Kobe's team for as long as he's around - but there's no shame in ceding the limelight to a big man this magnificently talented. The transition will be subtle and possibly unacknowledged, but rest assured we'll remain in good hands.
Hey, anyone know what Lamar's been up to this offseason? I don't think I've seen him in the news even once... guess he's been keeping to himself. Anyhow, he's back with the Lakers on a new contract after a smooth and uneventful negotiation with the team.
Every person reading this - all 12 million of you - has at one point felt massively frustrated with Lamar's play. You know what, though? He really does kick ass at basketball. With a wildly athletic 6'10" frame, he can function at a high level anywhere on the court, and like Gasol his multiplicity of talents suggest that he was genetically engineered to play in the Triangle. He can either catalyze the second-unit offense or, as he did in Cleveland last year, morph werewolf-style into a low-post scoring and rebounding menace.
If you are an opponent of the Lakers, there is simply no hiding from Lamar Odom.
Admittedly, I'm not crazy about his three-point shooting. He's hit 31% from range on his career, and you should definitely not expect anything like the insane 51% he hit in the playoffs last year. He'd be a more efficient offensive player if his shot selection were heavier on two-point attempts. But this is quibbling. Odom is a terrific player, and that the Lakers bring him off the bench as their sixth man is kind of obscene.
Any PF playing time not claimed by Gasol or Odom will fall to Old Man Powell. (He's actually only 26, but "Old Man Powell" has a fun ring to it, in a Scooby-Doo Villain kind of way.) Powell isn't that good, but he's cheap and doesn't steal yogurt out of the company fridge. Also he makes money for playing sports, which compared to yours truly makes him History's Greatest Human.
Look, all you really need to know is, if Powell plays more than 10 minutes a game this year, it means there's either been a horrible run of injuries to the Laker frontcourt, or Lamar's wife mistook him for a baked ham and ate him in his sleep.
Outlook: Ready to Rock
Hardly anyone has the talent to hang with the Lakers at the power-forward pozishe. The Mavs' Nowitzki-Shawn Marion combo is pretty tasty, and Garnett and Sheed (if healthy and motivated, as applicable) would make Boston a formidable Finals opponent. But Gasol and Odom are elite performers at the height of their careers, operating in a system that exploits their skills to near-perfection. There's no reason to think they won't treat us to another season or three of championship-caliber work.
In other words: all systems go.
(Can I come out from behind the couch now?)
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Comments
You are a brave man for bringing up that Kobe thing. . .
To me the best part is having 3 great starters (Pau, Lamar & Drew) to cover the PF and C positions. It means we can have 2 of the 3 on the court virtually at all times and they would still only average 33 minutes a game between them. Or if anyone gets in foul trouble, not a problem.
i have no problem with pua taking over
i mean as being the man on the offensive end if kobe begins his descent (i cringe just saying that).
we have a good team in place to help kobe as much as possible to help kobe not have to do as much.
Nice read, Dex......
If anything I think Laker fans should be excited at the thought of already having someone in place to take the mantle from Kobe when he starts his inevitable slide. Between Drew and Pau we’re not going to have to worry about going in to “rebuild” mode when the best player in the world leaves the team.
To me, it’s an exciting time when you can compete for a championship every year with at HOF superstar now and know pieces have already being acquired to keep us battling for the title in the future.
El futur es Pau!!
"Remember kids......... petty and cheap shot-ish doesn't make you a true fan, it just makes you petty and cheap shot-ish."
by Themanthemyththelegend on Oct 21, 2009 10:49 AM PDT reply actions
This past season there were already rumblings of Gasol playing or at least being more efficient than Kobe in the Playoffs including the Finals. The realistic Laker fans should at least acknowledge that that day is coming. The part that worries me is whether or not Kobe can accept the type of money that a 2nd option commands. On the business side of things no matter how good Pau becomes, it will always be Kobe who fills the seats and generates the most money for the Lakers and that will never change.
As far as the PF position, there isn’t another in the league that matches up. No one has a player much less a PF of LO’s caliber coming off the bench. Defenitely not one who has the length to defend, the handles to bring the ball up the court after he gets his own rebound. As long as Bynum, Odom and Gasol are healthy no one will be able to match that rotation.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 21, 2009 10:51 AM PDT reply actions
i think lakers fans will have less of a problem with gasol taking over
though, i wonder if it would affect kobe’s mentality?
I agree
similar to what happened to Shaq. He himself said that he understood why the Lakers went with Kobe. I’m sure that hurt his feelings. After all the hate and criticism that Kobe has gone through, my guess is his skin is thick enough to handle it. Unlike Shaq.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 21, 2009 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Speaking of Power Forwards
Doesn’t he have a bad back?

"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 21, 2009 12:55 PM PDT reply actions
at first i felt bad for her for all the hate she was getting, but after looking at her pre-nup with Lamar you guys can say whatever u want about her.
I aint sayin she a gold diggah, but she def aint messin with no broke n*****
In Kobe we trust!
lol..
funny shit!
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 21, 2009 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions
i saw a blog that said she gets NOTHING.
I’ll look for the link. I didn’t save it, because I don’t want to post the reality tv aspect of LO and his"wife." Just ball.
I agree about that
in regards to just posting about ball. But hey! it’s only pre-season. I’m we will all have something to talk about soon.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 22, 2009 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Two Words:
Michael Jordan.
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
huh?
What do you mean? This post is about PF’s.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 21, 2009 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
But it speaks of Kobe's decline...
…and subsequent passing of the torch to a teammate. I don’t think it happens just based on the guy’s drive/determination. I know he’s played more games than MJ did at this point, but if MJ made it to 35 with a 28 point average, Kobe can make it to 33, maybe 34.
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
OOOOOOH!
good points
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 21, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think this is the type of thing drive and dermination can be sure of
Kobe is in the best possible physical condition, but longevity often has as much to do with luck and genetics than work ethic and drive. There’s only so much the human body can take, but everyone’s level of strain is different.
We can only hope that Kobe’s genes are working in his favor.
Apparently it has
As far as genetics are involved. His father was able to play into his 50s (albeit in the ABA). From Wikipedia, his mother’s supposedly the sister of another NBA player “Chubby” Cox, so hopefully Kobe didn’t inherit that side of the family’s metabolic rate…
But as a player, Kobe belongs with Stockton and Reggie as one of the most durable guards ever. Should he start shooting more he could have several more very productive years ahead of him.
He's not a power forward
Dummy.
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
by Gils_Keloids on Oct 21, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions
I realized what I wrote only after I pressed "post"
At the same time, I was wondering if there is room for both Bynum and Gasol, as they are both post players.
Do you think Bynum and Gasol could ever reach the heights of Tim Duncan and Old Man Robinson? Do you think they’re close? Are they there already?
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
by Gils_Keloids on Oct 21, 2009 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions
have many titles have each won together
that answers your question
by matthewmafa on Oct 21, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think they're close
Neither Bynum nor Gasol have been leaders of this team, while Duncan and Robinson were clearly the leaders of theirs. Neither has also been the go-to guy of a successful team (making the playoffs and getting swept does not count). Because I’m generally optimistic about the Lakers, I feel like they could become close. But Gasol has to learn how to take over, and Bynum has to mature a little and stay healthy enough to fulfill his massive potential. They’d also need disciplined guards around them, and a coach that knows how to utilize their strengths.
6 days
till laker basketball i got my kobe jersey on already
YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD YES!
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Power forward positional preview
Nice break-down of the PFs; funny too. It will be interesting to see how the rotation and playing times develop. As for development, I think that Josh Powell can be more effective as he gets more experience…remember the days of seeing B.Cook launching as soon as he entered the building and be thankful…
by EddieTrueLaker on Oct 22, 2009 12:07 AM PDT reply actions
I agree that Gasol has all the skills to become the Lakers’ best player three years from now. But I like how you also acknowledge that this will be Kobe’s team until he retires. This team is really built around Kobe, and I’m not sure how that transition will pan out. I’ve never really seen Gasol as the kind of player with the potential to dominate, whereas Kobe’s been that guy since before Shaq left. Even in three years, in the waning seconds, I’m pretty sure it’ll be Kobe with the ball in his hands. And as weird as it might be, the 2013 Lakers could very well be a more talented version of the 2002 Wizards.
I think the Duncan\McDyess\Blair\Bonner combination at the forward spots deserve mention as well. They are no worse than Garnett/Sheed. And Bonner did provide quality minutes for them as well, and he is no worse than Powell.
I feel like if there’s any player who would be ready enough to make that jump into superstardom though, it’d be Bynum. Kobe may be older than Gasol, but Bynum is 7 years younger than Gasol! Anyway I’ll wait till you cover centers, but so far very nice reads. I can’t wait for the regular season to begin.
You bring up good points
something else is that by being the focal point or being given the title of the “go to guy” also means being a leader. Personally, I haven’t seen that side of Gasol. Maybe he has it in him and he just doens’t show that side of him because on this Laker team there is Fisher, Kobe and Phil who are the vocal ones. But if the Lakers are to win with Gasol there needs to be vocal leaders around him. Similar to what the Spurs have with Duncan. He is a leader but not vocally.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 22, 2009 6:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Disagree
I think Pau is very much a leader. I don’t think he is THE leader on this team — but that’s because there are Kobe, Fish, LO, and Phil. Keep in mind also that even if Kobe is no longer the best on the team, in terms of being the most productive, he will still probably be the team leader. He has the drive, the will, the experience, and he will always know and understand the game better than anyone else on the court. As he gets older, his skill may decline, but his experience, maturity, and leadership skills will be increasing with age.
At the same time, I think what you said about Duncan belies your point. You don’t necessarily have to be vocal to be the leader. Trust me, Duncan is THE floor leader of the Spurs. Period. I mean, have a look at Fisher. He’s not really a very vocal guy, but there is NO DOUBT that he is one of the chief leaders of this Lakers team. Gasol strikes me as that type. And I would argue that even now, though he may not be a primary leader (mainly because Phil, Kobe, and Fish are there to take those roles), I would say that he and LO are unquestionable leaders, nonetheless. And Pau has the kind of personality, work ethic, mentality, etc., that people just naturally respect, which makes him a great lead-by-example type.
Chris’s point below may be more à propos. Just as likely is the possibility that Kobe will remain the floor leader of this team until 35-36, or whenever it is that he retires, at which time Bynum will be, what, 26-27? It’s possible that, by that time, Bynum will be emerging as the team’s floor leader.
Strength & Honor
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I agree
I’m not sure how likely it is that Pau will ever take the mantle as the team’s best player away from Kobe. Pau is only two years younger, and the shelf life for big men is generally shorter than it is for guards, so it’s quite possible that Pau’s inevitable deterioration will be happening at the same time as Kobe’s. Bynum’s youth in comparison means that its more likely he will be the one who ends up taking the reins when the time comes.

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