In NBA terms, he's Robin to Kobe's Batman. He's Ricardo Tubbs, Dwight Schrute, Shirley Feeney, Al Gore. He's the quintessential second fiddle and that's just fine by him. However, Pau Gasol has to realize that, while he may only be the second biggest star on the Lakers, he's still a star and, in big moments, he has to perform like a star. This was never more evident than last night when, with 13.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Gasol passed out of an easy look in the paint that could have put the Lakers ahead and potentially tied the series. Instead, Gasol's pass was picked off by Kevin Durant which lead to Durant's three-point dagger than essentially won the game for Oklahoma City.
Priority #1 in Los Angeles, and really in any sports city, is keeping the Lakers fans happy. Priority #1A, though, is keeping Kobe Bryant happy. Gasol managed to go 0-for-2 in that regard. After the game, Bryant said what we were all thinking: "Pau's got to be more assertive. He's got to be more aggressive, got to shoot the ball, got to drive to the basket...". That's a simple synopsis that even the untrained eye could have figured out. We haven't see a heralded big man this gun-shy since the Sacramento Kings days of Chris Webber. Gasol passing out of the big shot is just another bullet in the gun of critics who have been firing "Pau is soft" shots throughout the seven-foot Spaniard's career, dating back to his Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies days. Making matters worse, his replacement with the Grizz, his younger brother Marc, is the antithesis of soft. Marc Gasol is a grizzled banger who, while not possessing his brother's offensive flair, also doesn't cower in a corner in big spots like his big bro either. Pau's miscue Saturday night was the latest in what has been a rollercoaster 12-14 months for the All-Star forward.
Let's think back to last year's playoffs. The Lakers get swept out of the second round of the playoffs by the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks. Gasol, meanwhile, disappears for most of the series, allegedly because he was feeling emotionally detached after a breakup with his girlfriend. I know the love bug hits some guys hard but.....COME ON, MAN! You're in the City of Angels and you're letting a broken relationship take you out of doing your job? You know how many guys would kill to be young, rich, famous and single in Los Angeles? That criticism helped beat the drum once again for those questioning Pau's toughness and mental makeup. It also lead to offseason where Gasol's name was being mentioned in more trade rumors than any NBA player not named Dwight Howard. In fact, Gasol eventually was traded.....to the Houston Rockets, as part of a deal that would have brought Chris Paul to the Lakers. As many of you know by now, that trade was killed by league offices and Gasol remained a Laker for the time being. Another lucky break for Gasol was that all of the "I can't believe you were about to trade me" outrage was taken up by Lamar Odom, who was dealt to Dallas for a 2nd round pick and a roll of quarters. Once Odom was traded, the heat rose again under Gasol's seat and the failed CP3 trade didn't stop Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak from shopping Gasol throughout the shortened season. He was dangled in L.A.'s pursuit of Howard. His name was brought up again in a deal with Houston. There was talk of a Gasol-Rajon Rondo swap with Boston. Even Kobe ripping the team in late February in defense of Gasol couldn't keep the big man off the block. Gasol was lucky again, though, as the Lakers failed to move Gasol before the deadline.
This time around, Gasol won't be as fortunate. If the errant pass that lead to Durant's three wasn't enough to put the goat horns on Gasol after Game 4, there's this: In the fourth quarter, he and fellow big man Andrew Bynum combined for two points and one rebound on 1-for-2 shooting, accounting for 9.1 percent of the Lakers' shots in the final period. Kobe Bryant, meanwhile, accounted 45.5 of the team's attempts, going 2-for-10. The second best player on a contender doesn't account for less than 10% of the team's offense. You think Dwyane Wade is going 1-for-2 in the fourth quarter tonight against Indiana? You think Manu Ginobili scores only two points in the final quarter against the Clippers? You think Kevin Garnett only finishes with one fourth-quarter rebound against Philly? Do you think any of those aforementioned three pass up a clear look in the paint with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter? Of course not. In his postgame interview, Kobe said: "He(Gasol) is the guy they're leaving open." Leaving open? How many All-Star forwards get "left open" late in the fourth quarter in the playoffs? Why would anyone leave the second best player on the Lakers open? Kobe explains: "When he catches the ball, he's looking to pass." Aaaah....that's it. Why play defense on a guy who you know wants no part of playing offense, right? I'm not NBA pro, but even I know my responsibility as the #2 isn't "catching the ball, looking to pass". That's Steve Blake's job. Hell, even Blake had no problem taking the final shot in Game 2....even if it did miss. You get the ball in the paint with a clear look at the hoop, you take that shot. They teach you that in 5th grade gym class.
Kobe Bryant got a lion's share of the criticism because he is the franchise guy and his ridiculously bad shot selection did help Oklahoma City get back in the game(Seriously, who takes fadeaway threes up eight in the fourth?). Still, a lot of the Game 3 collapse falls in Gasol's lap and that's why, after Oklahoma City closes this series out(be in in 5 or 6), Pau Gasol is getting traded.
There's no way Kobe Bryant, after facing second round eliminations for the second consecutive year, largely because his #2 shrunk under the bright lights when it mattered the most, doesn't push for Gasol to be moved this offseason when there's obvious fan sentiment to do so. While not having the high-intensity pressure of playing in New York, being a star player on the Los Angeles Lakers is a high-profile job with lofty expectations. Those were shoes that Gasol and his mild-mannered nature were never comfortable fitting in. Sure, it was easy to praise Gasol when the Lakers won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010 but that ship has now sailed. This is a Lakers team on decline. In reality, they were thisclose to not even making it out of the first round against Denver. It's time for the team to rebuild. If that means making the much-anticipated Bynum-for-Howard trade, so be it. If that means trading Metta World Peace for spare parts? Fine. One thing's for certian, Gasol has to go and Kobe knows it. Kobe knows that he'll never catch Micheal Jordan with his #2 passing up big shots and scoring two points in the final quarter of a potential series-tying win. Kobe knows Gasol needs to be more aggressive for L.A. to have a chance. Kobe also knows that, if Gasol continues to play the reluctant superstar act, Gasol will be on the next thing smoking out of L.A.
Try handling THAT breakup, Pau.
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