He just can't play defense anymore which only makes Tim Duncan's ability to remain relevant at that side of the ball all the more impressive and the only way for him to be effective is to demand the ball on offense and clog up the middle of the lane.
The way the league is going now, I don't even want to mess with big men if they can't play defense. It's hard enough for them to guard in space in the pace-and-space era but if they aren't physically capable at it and they aren't even trying, it's just hopeless.
On a more visceral level, it's very annoying to watch Gasol play defense, and I think that this is part of the reason fans don't like him. He is constantly screaming , shaking his head, arguing with officials, and calling out teammates on the floor oftentimes when he is the one to blame.
It is frustrating watching stuff like this happen multiple times every game:. Gasol's defensive skills were once pretty valuable, back when he was starting his career in the early 's. In today's league though, there's not much use for immobile shot blockers like Roy Hibbert or Pau Gasol. Gasol still brings rim protection to the table, but with the immense number of pick and rolls that are continuously run at him in the modern NBA, his warts become even more exposed.
The Bulls can hide him, but only so much. They've done a good job of it so far, but he's starting to play more minutes and Noah can't cover for him any more with his recent injury. As a result, the defense is starting to slip. It's not all Pau's fault - he isn't physically capable of being the defender the Bulls need him to be in the minutes that they are asking him to play.
This is a 35 year old guy quickly approaching the 36, minute mark. Pau does a good job in the things that he should be physically able to do, but don't let the numbers fool you. He's not as bad as the fans think he is but he's certainly nowhere near the elite level that some of the numbers paint him as. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.
By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Filed under:. New, comments. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. But Gasol individually is also just really good at raising his hands up and getting in the way of shots at the rim: If you go straight at Gasol and don't make him move much, there is a very good chance you're going to miss or get your shot blocked.
Seth's rim protection stats love Gasol even when comparing him to excellent defenders like Noah and Taj Gibson: Gasol is great head-on at the rim. The Bad - Lateral Movement Teams have been running pick and roll at the Bulls a lot when Gasol is in the game because he really struggles to move around laterally. Offers Very Little in Help Rotations Gasol generally trots down on defense and camps out in the paint. Gasol still isn't moving to help his teammates out: Gasol takes a strong step faking towards Serge Ibaka here, which is about what every guy over 30 does at the YMCA.
If there's any movement necessary, Pau will often stand around and watch: Pau is bailed out a lot of the time because the Bulls' perimeter defenders are pretty good. Another example: Pau does stuff like this way too often. When Gasol comes over to help on penetration, he looks really bad because nobody covers the space Gasol has vacated: Jonathan Tjarks summed this up really nicely in his blog : I can see why people have been talking trash about Fred Hoiberg if he was starting Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic together for so long.
It takes about five minutes of watching those guys play together to see that they are way too slow to play any type of defense and having them both out there is pretty much an invitation for a lay-up line at the front of the rim.
Teams are going at Pau a lot at the rim, but they can also have their fill of wide open midrange jump shots whenever he's put through pick and roll. Pau concedes them; A lot of times he doesn't even bother to get a hand up:. Gasol, 40, has identified the Los Angeles Lakers as one of his dream destinations. It would be very special, and now that my brother [Marc] is there, even more special.
There will probably be better options than Gasol when that time comes, but for sentimental reasons, it would be hard to argue against the Lakers bringing back Gasol for one last ride. You can follow this author on Twitter at RadRivas. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.
Or, perhaps, the veteran changes his tune and decides he just wants another chance to be a part of a team, and takes an offer regardless of whether it comes with playing time. It's certainly not impossible that Gasol ends up on a roster before the end of the season, but don't expect it to happen anytime soon. By Jack Maloney. Dec 10, at pm ET 2 min read.
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