To put it simply, Pau's inconsistency this year is the main cause of the Lakers struggles. But I have faith he'll get it together by the Playoffs.
I posted this awhile back....
While I realize this sort of analysis may be over some of your heads I think it's needed to put a rest to all the superfluous bull being presented...
(compliments of Tom Ziller)
Kobe has been comfortable his entire career soaking up 32-35 percent of his team's possessions while on the floor. That's where he is now, and while his efficiency is off peak (110 offensive rating this season, as opposed to 115 last year) it's not bad by any means. Further, over his career Kobe's efficiency hasn't improved with lower usage. Take a look at the chart, and concentrate (for now) on the right side.
Since the 1999-2000 season, Kobe's usage has fluctuated between "really high" and "really really high." In the highest of the high, his efficiency has been at his best. Kobe doesn't need quality teammates soaking up possessions in order to produce at a high, efficient level.
Pau does, as you can see in the graph. Look at Pau's line of linear regression -- historically, the higher Pau's usage, the lower his efficiency. By dramatic levels. This isn't nearly as clean as it looks; Pau's high-usage seasons, after all, came in Memphis, where he was the centerpiece of an offensively underwhelming unit. Pau's best efficiency -- last season and this season -- has come in L.A. How much of that shift can be attributed to the lowered usage rates versus the better supporting cast? That's hard to tell. And that's at the crux of any argument that Pau specifically should see the ball more. If his increased efficiency is due to the smaller role relative to his Memphis days, an increase in possessions now would hurt his efficiency; at some point, there's a break-even between Pau's overall superior efficiency and Kobe's basically stable level. Or, at some point, it won't be in the Lakers' best interest to give Pau the ball more, because Kobe will be able to get more points out of each subsequent possession.
To put it simply, Pau's inconsistency this year is the main cause of the Lakers struggles. But I have faith he'll get it together by the Playoffs.
teams are playing real physical against Pau and he cant handle it.
What's the teams record minus Gasol vs. minus Kome? That's right...
and whats gasol's record without having Kobe on his team?
and what's Kobe's record without having Gasol on his team?
Better then Gasol's record without Kobe.
3 rings.
but but but Gasol went to the playoffs without Kobe.
0-12, sons.
Gasol - 1 ring
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JustBlaze just getting pwned in this thread.![]()
you guys are all right...Pau's smart enough to figure it out...right now he's playing like a 7 ft'er with no gonads...He needs to get in some faces and draw a couple of technicals yelling big men down face to face...and swaying like he's gonna bust their ass...right now Pau could get in the head of anyone...Imagine he if told Nene or Dwight Howard: "Man I'll you up "...that's so rare it would get into their heads and take them out of the game...Both he and Bynum need to show their willing to kick some ass...right now Kobe and Artest, and especially Fish are the only ones that have shown me they're willing to knuckle-up and take no from no one...especially Fish.that little mutha er seems like he can kick some ass..Odom shows promise...![]()
Gasol needs to man the up.
Bynum is outplaying him right now.
damn right...he needs to get into thier heads. When i play b-ball and do a hook shot, i yell out "reggie millllleeeer" and thier like WTF?! LOL. Anyways...Pau needs to stop throwing up whacked shots and be like bynum..square up and take the contact.
lol gasol. while he is a good player, he is one of the most overrated big men i have ever seen.
If LA wants to dominate in the NBA instead of making the games interesting for the opponent; the ball needs to move around more. You're bailing out the other team by having an offense that depends on one guy even if its Kobe especially since LA has potential match-up nightmares in Odom, Gasol, and Bynum. If you move the ball around more it'll improve chemistry, make Gasol and PJ happy, takes some burden off of Bryant physically and mentally, and make LA a much more dangerous and dominant team.
Otherwise they'll further tire Bryant out and might lose their top spot in the West to the Mavs who have one of the easier remaining schedules.
These threads tend to seperate true Laker fans from Kobe jockriders, and there arent many of the former.
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