duncan228
04-01-2009, 12:42 AM
Is Pau Gasol second best? (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gasol-frank-duncan-2350170-game-lakers)
Whicker: Lakers' post player raises eyebrows around the NBA.
Mark Whicker
The Orange County Register
New Jersey Nets coach Lawrence Frank saw enough of the Lakers last week to proclaim that “you can make the argument Pau Gasol is the best second-best player on a team in the NBA.”
Two-player, not two-guard. Frank was basically calling Gasol the best of the Tontos, the Tubbs to Kobe Bryant’s Crockett.
It’s a larger compliment than maybe even Frank suspects. There are three second bananas who score more points than Gasol: Dallas’ Jason Terry (to Dirk Nowitzki) and New Jersey’s own Vince Carter (to Devin Harris), and also the Hornets’ David West (to Chris Paul).
San Antonio’s Tony Parker and Tim Duncan both rank ahead of Gasol in points. Then again, nobody could label either Parker or Duncan a No. 2.
And what does that make Ray Allen of the Celtics, or Kevin Garnett?
But maybe Frank was right on it. Gasol has a better shooting percentage and free throw percentage than does Duncan. The Spurs’ future Hall of Fame outrebounds Gasol, 10.6 per game to 9.7, but Gasol has more offensive boards.
Gasol also has played six more games than Duncan and averages more minutes per.
Perhaps Frank meant that Bryant-Gasol is a better-functioning duo than that any of the other serious title contenders. Because Gasol is so efficient and doesn’t need his teammates to clear the floor, his preferences fit Bryant’s.
Throw in Andrew Bynum, at least the way Bynum was playing before he got hurt, and you have the magic “two-and-a-half superstars” formula needed to win a championship.
Cleveland and Orlando aren’t close to that. LeBron James is getting impressive help from Mo Williams but the Cavaliers wouldn’t be able to match the Lakers’ bigs in a 7-game series. Then again, The King might be two superstars himself.
Dwight Howard looks more monstrous each game and he blends well with the Magic’s 3-point brigade. And Orlando, unlike Boston and Cleveland, is 2-0 against the Lakers this year. But can Howard hold up against Bynum and Gasol?
First things first. The West semifinals and finals will be a tougher nut than most people here are assuming.
It’s just interesting to hear a studious NBA coach voice his appreciation for Gasol. Sometimes you have to make a 3,000-mile visit to be appreciated.
Whicker: Lakers' post player raises eyebrows around the NBA.
Mark Whicker
The Orange County Register
New Jersey Nets coach Lawrence Frank saw enough of the Lakers last week to proclaim that “you can make the argument Pau Gasol is the best second-best player on a team in the NBA.”
Two-player, not two-guard. Frank was basically calling Gasol the best of the Tontos, the Tubbs to Kobe Bryant’s Crockett.
It’s a larger compliment than maybe even Frank suspects. There are three second bananas who score more points than Gasol: Dallas’ Jason Terry (to Dirk Nowitzki) and New Jersey’s own Vince Carter (to Devin Harris), and also the Hornets’ David West (to Chris Paul).
San Antonio’s Tony Parker and Tim Duncan both rank ahead of Gasol in points. Then again, nobody could label either Parker or Duncan a No. 2.
And what does that make Ray Allen of the Celtics, or Kevin Garnett?
But maybe Frank was right on it. Gasol has a better shooting percentage and free throw percentage than does Duncan. The Spurs’ future Hall of Fame outrebounds Gasol, 10.6 per game to 9.7, but Gasol has more offensive boards.
Gasol also has played six more games than Duncan and averages more minutes per.
Perhaps Frank meant that Bryant-Gasol is a better-functioning duo than that any of the other serious title contenders. Because Gasol is so efficient and doesn’t need his teammates to clear the floor, his preferences fit Bryant’s.
Throw in Andrew Bynum, at least the way Bynum was playing before he got hurt, and you have the magic “two-and-a-half superstars” formula needed to win a championship.
Cleveland and Orlando aren’t close to that. LeBron James is getting impressive help from Mo Williams but the Cavaliers wouldn’t be able to match the Lakers’ bigs in a 7-game series. Then again, The King might be two superstars himself.
Dwight Howard looks more monstrous each game and he blends well with the Magic’s 3-point brigade. And Orlando, unlike Boston and Cleveland, is 2-0 against the Lakers this year. But can Howard hold up against Bynum and Gasol?
First things first. The West semifinals and finals will be a tougher nut than most people here are assuming.
It’s just interesting to hear a studious NBA coach voice his appreciation for Gasol. Sometimes you have to make a 3,000-mile visit to be appreciated.