Gasoft.....how much has really changed?

by sctrojan13 on Jun 4, 2010 7:27 PM PDT

We all know that a big part of the reason that the Lakers lost the 2008 NBA finals is that they were not tough enough. Pau Gasol was seen as the key perpetrator when he got dominated by the Celtics big men.

One game later and everyone is claiming that everything is different. But is it really or was 2008 an over-reaction to Gasol's softness and this year an over-reaction to his toughness? Let's take a look.

The key difference that so many people seem to be ignoring is the position played by Gasol. In 2008 he was playing CENTER, matched up against Kendrick Perkins. His teammate in the front court was Lamar Odom who may be 6'10 (according to Yahoo!) but plays like he is 6'6/6'7. Odom doesn't even stretch the floor like 4's such as Rashard Lewis do. So he essentially had to take on Perkins and a hungry Kevin Garnett (before his transformation into Gar) by himself. That would make anyone look soft, especially a finesse player. He never stood a chance because he is not a center and he had to take on 2 guys.

Flash forward to 2010.

Guess who is healthy now......Andrew Bynum. He is a center. He is roughly the same size and build as Perkins and on average (according to the spider charts under FanShots) the same statistically. Every Lakers fan knows that when Bynum is on his game and is playing in a half-court, slow-it-down, game, he is better than Perkins.

That is exactly what happened yesterday. In the first half, Bynum played 20 minutes due to Odom foul trouble and neutralized Perkins. That left the most skilled big-man in the game matched up against a former great who showed his age, in major part, by his lack of agility. Gasol was able to excel and play his game. In the 3rd quarter it was the Kobe show and so much attention had to be payed to him that Gasol was able to just play.

Don't get me wrong, Gasol has gotten tougher and more of a defensive mentality in the last 2 years, I'm just saying the transformation is nowhere near what people are trying to make it be. The main reason that those items have increased is every part of his game has gotten better.

But what happens if Bynum's knee swells up too badly to play and Kobe can't completely dominate. Will everyone still say Gasol is a new player?

Poll

So, how much different is Gasol now than 2 years ago?

He is a new, tougher player who is miles ahead ahead of Gasoft

54 votes

He is the same player, just a little more developed and in a better position.

39 votes

Who cares? Screw the Celtics.....BE LA

24 votes

117 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Pau has definitely gotten stronger since he hit the weight room in 08

of course, he’s not suddenly going to become shaq.
I think, as Phil stated, Pau has matured and probably mentally tougher when he needs to. He’s no longer shocked at the elbows making way to his ribs and he knows that he needs to play though those this time. It’s not so much that Pau is suddenly going to turn KG and start bullying everyone else…but he’s mentally (and physically) prepared to not get bullied. Plus, I’m pretty sure he has more motivation against the celtics.

by Nostance on Jun 4, 2010 7:48 PM PDT reply actions

On the offensive end, I really don’t see much improvement as far as Gasol trying to show him dominance. It’s on the rebounds and on the defensive end where Gasol shows it.

Compared to 2008, the Gasol of 2010 gets himself into much better position and utilizes his length and newfound strength more frequently. I mean… 8 offensive rebounds.

A Lakers fan, but primarily a fan of the game.

by Follows the Game on Jun 4, 2010 10:32 PM PDT reply actions

Pau has changed

and that is thanks to Kobe Bryant. Bryant demanded more out of Pau because he was capable of more.

Remember shortly after the Lakers lost to the Celtics…Kobe absolutely flattened Pau when he tried to set a pic in the Olympics that summer. That wasn’t by accident.

Pau is a different player than he was in 2008. There’s no question. Or poll.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Jun 5, 2010 2:07 AM PDT reply actions

You know, it’s much more possible that there are a multitude of reasons why Gasol isn’t soft anymore..

But I very much like your reasoning. Given Kobe’s personality, and the situation Gasol was ‘flattened’ in, I see it as a very important reason why he’s much tougher now.

A Lakers fan, but primarily a fan of the game.

by Follows the Game on Jun 5, 2010 2:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Well, I don't think it was just that one play in the Olympics

But I do think that while there are several motivating factors, I think you have to credit Kobe’s mentorship and leadership, and his example, a lot.

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by Josh Tucker on Jun 5, 2010 7:01 AM PDT up reply actions

mentorship? leadership? Kobe?

you must be some kind of…………..FANBOY!!!

Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."

by pslakerfan on Jun 5, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

definitely

I wasn’t pointing to that one incident as the sole reason Pau has changed. It’s just one of many examples of how Kobe motivates and leads his teammates.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Jun 5, 2010 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions

As others have stated, he's matured in a mental sense

You see that much more on the defensive end, particularly in the huge uptake in rebounding. He posted a pedestrian 13.1 rebound rate in ‘07-’08 before increasing that to 14.7 in ‘08-’08 and a career high 17.1 in ‘09-’10. His uptick in offensive rebounding rate follows a similar trend.

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

by Ben R on Jun 5, 2010 6:01 AM PDT reply actions

bynum played limited minutes

gasol was dominating when he was playing center as well.
he has gotten a lot tougher, but your right, having bynum helps… alot

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by Davone_Is_BessT on Jun 6, 2010 8:35 AM PDT reply actions