Grizzlies: Kobe Bryant says Pau Gasol's conditioning isn't where it needs to be

[lefty]

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Kobe Bryant says Pau Gasol's conditioning isn't where it needs to be

By Matt Moore | Senior Blogger
November 23, 2012 9:46 am ET

• 13 | Comments

Gasol has struggled this year.(Getty Images)

Lakers F/C Pau Gasol is a 51 percent shooter for his career. So far this season, he's averaging 43 percent. His points per game and per 36 minutes are down, as is his rebounding. It hasn't been a great start for the Spanish legend.
Gasol's playing heavy-minutes for a bench-short team in Los Angeles, and Kobe Bryant is publicly attributing Gasol's struggles to his conditioning.

"Pau is used to laboring up the floor and coasting a little bit," Kobe Bryant said. "In this offense, we have to put the motor on the first few steps we move up the court."

via Lakers question Pau Gasol's conditioning - LA Daily News.
Yahoo Sports notes more on Gasol's problems:

He's had his shot blocked eleven times this season through 12 games, and he appears to be fading on both his jumpers, and short hooks. The quick, improvised hooks or finger-rolls he puts up after an offensive rebound or extra pass? He's even leaning on those, and not following through. Gasol is so good that you'd hardly call him a millstone, he's kept the Lakers in several games with his brilliant overall play, but you look up that "43 percent" number after three weeks of Laker basketball, and it hardly surprises you.

via Kobe Bryant wonders if Pau Gasol might be ‘coasting a little bit' because of his conditioning | Ball Don't Lie - Yahoo! Sports.
It should be noted that Gasol was one of the more vocally disappointed players in the decision not to go with Phil Jackson as head coach. That likely has to do with the fact not only that he fit so well into the Triangle, and had so much success there, but it doesn't ask him to do anything he's not used to. D'Antoni's system does.
There are a lot of ways D'Antoni's system could really benefit Gasol, but it's also going to take more physical exertion due to the pace. And until D'Antoni feels that he can give Antawn Jamison or Jordan Hill heavy minutes backing up Gasol, Pau will have to carry the load and do a better job at it.
It should be noted that Gasol's post defense has actually been considerable, as Synergy Sports puts him in the 82nd percentile for defending in the block. But overall his defense has suffered along with the Lakers' entire unit.
We'll have to see if this is something he works out of or a start to a poor season for the former All-Star.

[Proxy]

[Fabbs]

Gasol's playing heavy-minutes for a bench-short team in Los Angeles, and Kobe Bryant is publicly attributing Gasol's struggles to his conditioning.
"Pau is used to rubbing up 2 or three refs at a time as part of our agreement for rigged calls. Usually he has one on the floor while I'm doing my thing," Kobe Bryant said. "Payback for Dwight Howard has refs expecting more favors then usual. I can tell Pau is laboring, but he'll get it right. With my help."

[purplengold]

can tell why people callin you gs

[Clipper Nation]

Kobe throwing his teammates under the bus per par

[purplengold]

Kobe throwing his teammates under the bus per par

gotta say somtin when a big shoots close ta 40% n is expected ta be a 2nd option, Stacy

[Raven]

same old idiot.

[ElNono]

Pau is shooting 72% within 3 feet of the rim... that's not the problem... the problem here is that he's asked to chuck long range shots (he's shooting 21% from 3-9 ft, and 12% from 10 to 15 ft)...

Pau had to give up the paint so Dwight has enough spacing to operate inside, and so far it isn't working out. Kobe should be singing praises that his teammate is sacrificing his numbers to have a new teammate produce at the best of his abilities, tbh.

Obviously, I expect Kirby to snitch on Pau before he does that though.

[Fabbs]

gotta say somtin when a big shoots close ta 40% n is expected ta be a 2nd option, Stacy

Laker Fan coming on Spurs board desperately seeking validation for Kobe Boi.
You're not getting it.

Are you also on Laker worshipper type sites where your own are? Ie Lakersground.

[JRHernandez88]

Lol

[purplengold]

Laker Fan coming on Spurs board desperately seeking validation for Kobe Boi.
You're not getting it.

Are you also on Laker worshipper type sites where your own are? Ie Lakersground.

somebody gotta say somtin gs, after Dwight Pau the option ta score. considerin all da heat Pau is gettin, this be Kobe tellin haters ta quiet down n wait fo Pau to get in game form.

i haven't visited lg fo years, they usually dun know much bout basketball

[Raven]

somebody gotta say somtin gs, after Dwight Pau the option ta score. considerin all da heat Pau is gettin, this be Kobe tellin haters ta quiet down n wait fo Pau to get in game form.

i haven't visited lg fo years, they usually dun know much bout basketball

so pau was in shape with brown and now is not?

[purplengold]

so pau was in shape with brown and now is not?

pau ain't been shooting good wit brown either, but da new system wit pringleface is uptempo so if even he was in shape then it understandable he not conditioned for 25% more runnin

[Mugen]

Mitch, please grant every got LakerFans wish and somehow trade Pau for Amare or Josh Smith. It'll make this Laker season even better than it already is so far.

[Raven]

pau ain't been shooting good wit brown either, but da new system wit pringleface is uptempo so if even he was in shape then it understandable he not conditioned for 25% more runnin

hm, reasonable point..

[z0sa]

Pau is shooting 72% within 3 feet of the rim... that's not the problem... the problem here is that he's asked to chuck long range shots (he's shooting 21% from 3-9 ft, and 12% from 10 to 15 ft)...

Pau had to give up the paint so Dwight has enough spacing to operate inside, and so far it isn't working out. Kobe should be singing praises that his teammate is sacrificing his numbers to have a new teammate produce at the best of his abilities, tbh.

Obviously, I expect Kirby to snitch on Pau before he does that though.

truth bomb

[lefty]

Pau is shooting 72% within 3 feet of the rim... that's not the problem... the problem here is that he's asked to chuck long range shots (he's shooting 21% from 3-9 ft, and 12% from 10 to 15 ft)...

Pau had to give up the paint so Dwight has enough spacing to operate inside, and so far it isn't working out. Kobe should be singing praises that his teammate is sacrificing his numbers to have a new teammate produce at the best of his abilities, tbh.

Obviously, I expect Kirby to snitch on Pau before he does that though.

good point TBH

[Brazil]

Pau is shooting 72% within 3 feet of the rim... that's not the problem... the problem here is that he's asked to chuck long range shots (he's shooting 21% from 3-9 ft, and 12% from 10 to 15 ft)...

Pau had to give up the paint so Dwight has enough spacing to operate inside, and so far it isn't working out. Kobe should be singing praises that his teammate is sacrificing his numbers to have a new teammate produce at the best of his abilities, tbh.

Obviously, I expect Kirby to snitch on Pau before he does that though.

Pau has usually a good mid range jumper tbh so that's not the sole issue with him. His D has been very bad too, he is giving a lot of space to the opponent to shoot jumper on him see Lamarcus for instance. It would be also easier if the rest of the team was defending and rotating properly. Anyway kobe throwing his team mates under the bus is expected. Next on his list Howard, we know it's comin'

[Koolaid_Man]

Laker Fan coming on Spurs board desperately seeking validation for Kobe Boi

Actually what validated Kobe was

Kobe 5
Tired ole bag 4


;-)

[Bynumite]

Pau is shooting 72% within 3 feet of the rim... that's not the problem... the problem here is that he's asked to chuck long range shots (he's shooting 21% from 3-9 ft, and 12% from 10 to 15 ft)...

Pau had to give up the paint so Dwight has enough spacing to operate inside, and so far it isn't working out. Kobe should be singing praises that his teammate is sacrificing his numbers to have a new teammate produce at the best of his abilities, tbh.

Obviously, I expect Kirby to snitch on Pau before he does that though.

Elnono with the blind Kobe hater bads. Last season Kobe averaged 24 FGA per game, this season he's averaging 17 FGA and more assists in Nash's absence. Apparently, Kobe knows something about sacrificing his game as well.

But i guess you will keep running your old "Kobe can't defer" schtick and your brand new schtick "Kobe can't sacrifice his game", instead of eating the crow

The fact is, Pau is having a subpar season so far, no matter where you choose to put him on the court, because you know he can consistently shoot that jumper.

[JRHernandez88]

Duncan 3
Kobe 2

[Clipper Nation]

Pau is shooting 72% within 3 feet of the rim... that's not the problem... the problem here is that he's asked to chuck long range shots (he's shooting 21% from 3-9 ft, and 12% from 10 to 15 ft)...

Pau had to give up the paint so Dwight has enough spacing to operate inside, and so far it isn't working out. Kobe should be singing praises that his teammate is sacrificing his numbers to have a new teammate produce at the best of his abilities, tbh.

Obviously, I expect Kirby to snitch on Pau before he does that though.

ElNono with the exposing Kobe's selfishness and making Kobe stans buttsore goods...

[Koolaid_Man]

Duncan 3
Kobe 2

Denial can be a powerful mental stimuli....

I for one applaud your efforts.

[JRHernandez88]

Duncan 2
Kobe 1

[Clipper Nation]

Duncan 2
Kobe 1*

*CP3 was the real MVP that year

fify