The Best Pass No One Will Remember

by C.A. Clark on Jan 22, 2012 10:40 PM PST

Author's Note: No extra analysis for tonight's game, because I'm tired of writing the same stuff about the same results for the same team, and we all need a break from the same analysis even if it remains true.

Pau Gasol is a strange player. Take tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers, for example. I can't say that Gasol played all that well, since he shot only 4-12 from the field, did not go to the free throw line, scored just 8 points and pulled down just 8 rebounds (in a game that had 93 of them). But he did have 10 assists. Think about that ... the Lakers star power forward had more assists than he had points or rebounds. How does that even happen? I'm not sure, but what I am sure of is that Pau Gasol is the best passer on this team. Hell, he's one of the best passers in the league. Not for his position ... Pau Gasol is one of the best passers in the league period. How else can one explain this?

That, my friends, is a no-look, behind the head touch pass. Any one of those traits in a pass is usually pretty cool. Any combination of the two is usually pretty spectacular. Doing all three at once? In a live NBA game? I can't remember ever seeing anything like it. That might be one of the single greatest passes in NBA history ... and nobody is going to remember it. Because Andrew Bynum couldn't finish the play, and because Pau Gasol didn't play all that well overall, and because the Lakers lost in typical Lakers fashion, this glorious pass is destined to be pushed into obscurity.

There hasn't been much to smile about in Lakerland over the past few months. We were disgraced by our team's exit from the playoffs, we were less than thrilled with the head coach brought in to replace Phil Jackson (for apparently good reason), and now, our team is off to a rough start to the season and looks to be completely lacking in depth and ability behind the big three. So take a night off from worrying, and just watch this highlight over and over again. It really is that good.

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*bookmarked

how you doin'
Twitter: @bluefalcon916

by bluexfalcon on Jan 22, 2012 10:41 PM PST reply actions

Lol. Got me so depressed

There hasn’t been much to smile about in Lakerland over the past few months. We were disgraced by our team’s exit from the playoffs, we were less than thrilled with the head coach brought in to replace Phil Jackson (for apparently good reason), and now, our team is off to a rough start to the season and looks to be completely lacking in depth and ability behind the big three.

Clippers better get ready for an ass whupping this Wednesday

"I don't mind being the goat. I don't mind being the villain, hated. I've been that my whole career, so it's not like that's anything new. I don't mind people jumping on the bandwagon or jumping off. I just focus on playing the game." -Ron Artest

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius

by Hdg23 on Jan 22, 2012 10:42 PM PST reply actions

Fixed.

~~Clippers~~ Lakers better get ready for an ass whupping this Wednesday

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. - Albert Einstein
Captain Obvious, er, MagicJohnson: Kobe, Bynum & Gasol all must step up big to beat the @Indiana_Pacers.
Tweetness

by SoCalGal on Jan 22, 2012 10:48 PM PST up reply actions

You of little faith...

WE GOT THIS

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius

by Hdg23 on Jan 22, 2012 10:58 PM PST up reply actions

I agree, Lakers got Clippers on Weds

The Lakers will play with fire for revenge for their last loss to the Clippers.

Because if even that doesn’t get them to play with fire… then… dammit…

by neokoros on Jan 22, 2012 11:35 PM PST up reply actions

depends

on whether or not Chris Paul plays.

by shawism on Jan 22, 2012 11:43 PM PST up reply actions

They're winning without him.

by SoCalGal on Jan 23, 2012 7:26 AM PST up reply actions

and David Stern nixed a deal that would have gotten us Chris Paul

by LAL32 on Jan 22, 2012 10:55 PM PST up reply actions

Lol

Btw will CP3 play Wednesday? I sure as hell hope not

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius

by Hdg23 on Jan 22, 2012 11:00 PM PST up reply actions

he might be a game time decision

how you doin'
Twitter: @bluefalcon916

by bluexfalcon on Jan 22, 2012 11:01 PM PST up reply actions

I think hes coming back

See me on Twitter follow me @ EddieCheeze, Catch me on FB friend me Eddie Cheeze, See my group on youtube listen to us Hood Platinum, want me ta kill a track email me Cheeze2k11@gmail.com....Im errwhere

by EmmCeee on Jan 22, 2012 11:02 PM PST via Android app up reply actions

He better not

How awesome would that be if we got Dwill? Battle of LA with the two PGs that have been compared numerous times til’ Deron went to the nets. Exciting matchup, especially if they meet in the playoffs

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius

by Hdg23 on Jan 22, 2012 11:05 PM PST up reply actions

I expect Pau and Drew to fold on so many boards by not boxing out or not jumping more than 5 inches off the ground

AMMO carried the Lakers to back-2-back titles and we couldn't even get LEWIS MONROE for him...

by Q.Calloway25 on Jan 22, 2012 10:59 PM PST up reply actions

really depressing to be a Laker fan right now

Today is the second time the Lakers game almost killed me in the weights room sigh

"If you're a basketball player, you've got to shoot" - Oscar Robertson

by Funkensteinn on Jan 22, 2012 11:07 PM PST reply actions

Today, when there was a couple minutes left left and Lakers were up, I found things to distract me so my full focus wouldn't be on the game

Because I was not surprised by the final outcome… smh….

by neokoros on Jan 22, 2012 11:28 PM PST up reply actions

At least the Celtics have been terrible so far

by LAL32 on Jan 22, 2012 11:08 PM PST reply actions

I dont care about the Celtics, we want championships!!!

"If you're a basketball player, you've got to shoot" - Oscar Robertson

by Funkensteinn on Jan 22, 2012 11:10 PM PST up reply actions

+16

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius

by Hdg23 on Jan 22, 2012 11:11 PM PST up reply actions

Even if Celtics, Mavs, Heat, and Dan Gilbert all fail, that won't be enough

The importance of our success trumps any losses or struggles from other teams

by neokoros on Jan 22, 2012 11:30 PM PST up reply actions

Move Gasol to point guard!

Jordan's Final Comeback, Rewritten

by jahidi_jones on Jan 22, 2012 11:27 PM PST reply actions

Can't be worse than what we have

Sad thing is I am not kidding

by neokoros on Jan 22, 2012 11:33 PM PST up reply actions

He’s quicker than Fish. I am barely kidding. I was listening to Mason and Ireland the other day and Ireland was going off about how Fish gets no respect. I completely disagree. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what Fish has MEANT to the Lakers. The problem is what he means currently is a big defensive sieve of a point guard that shoots 36% from the field. Not to harp on any one play last night but when Fish hit that jumper with his toe on the line towards the end of the game, why the hell was he not set up behind the line? Fish is a Laker legend but he needs to hang up the sneakers and coach

by The Stuntmen on Jan 23, 2012 12:42 PM PST up reply actions

If I'm seeing correctly,

that’s also Kobe directing Barnes to make the right pass, which makes that clip even better for me.

Kobe’s been wearing the traffic cop hat quite a bit lately, which has led to some good ball movement, but his nonchalance on the offensive end is equally puzzling. And his smile after tonight’s missed jumper at the end was almost one of resignation and amusement at the outcome. Whatever it was, I’m not used to seeing that at the end of even a regular-season game.

I hope Kobe keeps playing at the ridiculous level he’s been playing and maintains faith :(

by surk14 on Jan 22, 2012 11:36 PM PST reply actions

I'm curious about this "nonchalance on the offensive end". What do you mean?

by SoCalGal on Jan 23, 2012 7:27 AM PST up reply actions

Just a strange lack of intensity

He’s still actively looking for his shot and commanding double teams but he doesn’t seem to play with the same kind of ferociousness or disdain for losing that we are used to seeing from him night in, night out. I hardly saw him demanding the ball in yesterday’s 4th quarter, and even when his teammates were slow to rotate over on help defense, I didn’t see him yell at them or pound the ball in frustration. He almost looked too exasperated to put his team on his back as he’s done for so long.

I’m obviously pointing out some minuscule things here, and you certainly couldn’t sense anything from looking at Kobe’s amazing production, but yesterday there were moments when Kobe was displaying almost more zen than the anger I’m used to seeing.

by surk14 on Jan 23, 2012 12:41 PM PST up reply actions

this was just yesterday btw

by surk14 on Jan 23, 2012 12:42 PM PST up reply actions

I think the smile is because he was completely confused as to why Indiana did not foul when they had one to give. On the inbounds it looked like the Lakers were assuming a foul was coming.

by The Stuntmen on Jan 23, 2012 12:44 PM PST up reply actions

If you look at Pau’s performances and his stats on paper you can easily say that he is a great player and he really is. I don’t know if he is really declining or if its something more mental. In my opinion he is the type of player that you can look at him play and his stats and consider him either a glass half full or a glass half empty type of player. Depending on who you ask. If the Lakers would have won tonight, his assists would be looked at differently.

What I do see from Pau is that he has been so inconsistent. For example, tonight, the Lakers needed more rebounding. They got out rebounded 43-50 but he did more in the assist department. He just seems to provide what the Lakers need the least at times. But one thing I can definitely say about him is that his defense has been great. I just hope that his effort picks up.

we aren't winning anything this year man - BlueXfalcon (January 22, 2012)

by Jelly Bean on Jan 22, 2012 11:40 PM PST reply actions

Come on...

One of the best passes of all time? Really?

If you traded Pau’s “Magic Johnson” passing for some dang toughness, Pau would be a whole lot better.

by wizexel22 on Jan 23, 2012 1:54 AM PST reply actions

Not really.

by LAMojo on Jan 23, 2012 7:12 AM PST up reply actions

Agree

Come on. Really? Watch any number of Bird’s games or Magic or Isiah or Nash or etc, etc. The difference is those guys were mentally tough too. Gasol is weak and a continued disappointment right now.

by fins on Jan 23, 2012 9:11 AM PST up reply actions

I dont see how can beat anyone now we suq! i cant even get excited to watch The games anymore!

by illyistic1 on Jan 23, 2012 4:22 AM PST via mobile reply actions

If mitch hadnt given up Odom for peanuts we would be laughing

Bynum/Odom for Howard
Gasol/pick/Blake for Deron

dream team right there… Kobe, Deron, Howard, Barnes, Mcbob/MWP/Murphy starting lineup… Kobe/Deron/Howard would trump any big three around now… You have size, passing and shooting… Defense, hustle and fire… fuck man…. Then develop Ebanks and Morris and G Lock and Millsap…

"If you're a basketball player, you've got to shoot" - Oscar Robertson

by Funkensteinn on Jan 23, 2012 5:09 AM PST reply actions

Did anyone think that..

we could beat the Shawfather? What foolishness.

Lakers and Patriots forever.

by D.S.T. on Jan 23, 2012 5:45 AM PST reply actions

Could you imagine what would have happened....

had Dwight Howard received that pass from Pau. (a man can dream, cant he)

That would have been the top play of the week on Sportscenter. But instead, its lost in the vaults of YouTube forever.

"What we want to remember—what we will remember—is the indelible vision of Kobe, his arms outstretched, delirious with joy and disbelief, running after and grabbing hold of Lamar Odom’s floating downcourt pass, while all the purple and gold streamers in the world are raining down on the hardwood." - Brian Tung

by LakersFoEva on Jan 23, 2012 7:31 AM PST reply actions

Makin' me drool here. Knock it off.

by SoCalGal on Jan 23, 2012 7:55 AM PST up reply actions

o_O

THE POWER OF SHAW COMPELS YOU.. THE POWER OF SHAW COMPELS YOU.....

by imposibol on Jan 23, 2012 7:57 AM PST up reply actions

Don't think we'll ever see that happen...

Either we have Pau/Bynum or just Dwight…

If you can't laugh at yourself... laugh at someone else

by x Nightwing x on Jan 23, 2012 8:34 AM PST up reply actions

lol some of yalls infatuation with dwight is ridiculous

how you doin'
Twitter: @bluefalcon916

by bluexfalcon on Jan 23, 2012 8:36 AM PST up reply actions

Dwight finishes at the rim cuz he can still jump

but Bynum jumps 5 inches to dunk it, and instead gets semi-blocked by Danny Granger. Aint happening with Dwight.

by LakersFoEva on Jan 23, 2012 8:58 AM PST up reply actions

Doesn't that play kinda summarize our season?

Beautiful finesse pass. Wasted. Posession. Wasted Game. So close and yet so far. Not to mention it’s Gasol to Bynum instead of CP3 to Howard (IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN!!!!!!)

Lakers and Patriots forever.

by D.S.T. on Jan 23, 2012 7:50 AM PST reply actions

It's so scary to say

But Steve Blake being out is KILLING us.

How can that be? But it is.

by rshinsec on Jan 23, 2012 8:45 AM PST reply actions

What in the....?!! We lost again???

Sigh….I missed yet another game but I was hoping we’d at least take this one being at home and all. What seemed like snowballs rolling down have now turned into an avalanche…just painful is all I can say.

"If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail. You know what I mean? Fuck it." -- Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant

by jXn on Jan 23, 2012 10:26 AM PST reply actions