Is Gasol Empty Calories?

**TD 21** · 09-08-2016

His counting stats and even the most commonly referenced advanced stats might look good and he's unquestionably a good - great passer, range shooter and rim protector, but . . .

- Per Synergy, he was in the 44th percentile among post players with at least 200 attempts last season, which placed him below the much maligned Howard

- Per NBA.com, he shot 57.2% at the rim, a full 3 percentage points below league average, as well as 38.6% from a few feet further out, good for 1.4% below league average

- Per NBA.com, 7.2 of his rebounds per game last season were uncontested

- Per SportVU, his adjusted defensive rebound chance percentage -- a metric that excludes the rebounds that were deferred (or uncontested) -- was worse than every Spurs rotation big last season

- Per Vantage Sports, of the top 10 players in rebounds per game last season, he had by far the worse contested rebound percentage, at 48.90%

- Per Basketball-Reference, the Bulls overall rebound percentage improved by about 7% with him on the bench (as an aside, Lee's teams have historically rebounded better with him on the bench, too)

**MaNu4Tres** · 09-08-2016

I elaborated on this to many writers and Spurs fans on twitter on how Gasol was "empty calories". I didn't want him and I elaborated why I preferred a Plumlee type ( which they got in Dedmon) and a guy like Harkless to match up with Golden State. The Spurs didn't need a player in the front court who's value is tied strictly to touches on the offensive end and the touches aren't even that valuable considering his age and where his game is at.

Most people expect Gasols numbers from last year to translate.. they simply won't. His numbers should go down to around 11-12 ppg and 6-8 rebounds at best. He'll likely opt in after the year is up because, from a numbers perspective and considering his age, he will have a "down" year ( even though his efficiency should remain relatively similar -- the volume in all phases from attempts to uncontested rebound opportunities won't be close to the same playing with Aldridge and Kawhi).

All in all, I can't really complain and I understand why they went after Gasol, but I would have preferred going a different route.

**Seventyniner** · 09-08-2016

I agree that he's not as good as his raw numbers might suggest, but I think he is about as good a replacement for Duncan as was reasonable. He won't be able to anchor the defense the way Tim did, but he can fill the same role; the Spurs had a great defense last year and that was with Tim being borderline immobile.

Pau is a massive upgrade on offense over injured Tim too, so I'm pretty optimistic. Chemistry is the unknown, it will take a hit but we'll have to see how big it is.

**baseline bum** · 09-08-2016

I'm just dreading seeing the inevitable barrage of 1-5 pick and rolls next season against Rique and Gasoft. They'll still win 55 games on the shoulders of Leonard and Aldridge but this team is going to take an enormous step back next season.

**MaNu4Tres** · 09-08-2016

Originally Posted by baseline bum

I'm just dreading seeing the inevitable barrage of 1-5 pick and rolls next season against Rique and Gasoft. They'll still win 55 games on the shoulders of Leonard and Aldridge but this team is going to take an enormous step back next season.

Not assessing the team strictly by the record, I actually think they'll be better than the end product we saw last season. Gasol won't be any worse than post AS break TD, Dedmon will provide more valuable aspects to the team than West ever could.

If you think about it, Duncan, West, Diaw, Miller, Martin, Bonner were all done and didn't provide anything positive when it mattered last year -- all are gone and replaced by better players or new blood with higher upside ( Murray, Bertans, Livio > Miller, Martin, Bonner). We should see a better team than the end product we saw last year. Will they have a better record? Likely not, but they'll have 60 wins at least and have a higher ceiling once playoffs kick off.

**SAGirl** · 09-08-2016

Actually what worries me the most about him are the multiple reports I have read that he doesn't box out and just defends bc he's that tall and long but can't keep up with anybody. He could really underperfom. It's a scary proposition. The not boxing out explains why the team is rebounding better with him off the floor. He might be bench bound if he's making the team worse but he's got a PO. Spurs are stuck.

**spurs10** · 09-08-2016

I watched the Olympics with a different focus than normal because Pau was now with the Spurs. We got lucky getting him. A 5,4, & 3 of Gasol, LMA, and Kawhi is a wonderful thing.

**~~dabom~~** · 09-08-2016

I like his defense actually. I think it's underrated. I mean no one stops everyone on a single night. I'm not gonna complain about every ing drive like a ing dud. Gonna surprise a lot of people. That's the theme for this year.

Expect the usual no shows by tony and especially tony slurpers/deniers.

**SAGirl** · 09-08-2016

Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Not assessing the team strictly by the record, I actually think they'll be better than the end product we saw last season. Gasol won't be any worse than post AS break TD, Dedmon will provide more valuable aspects to the team than West ever could.

If you think about it, Duncan, West, Diaw, Miller, Martin, Bonner were all done and didn't provide anything positive when it mattered last year -- all are gone and replaced by better players or new blood with higher upside ( Murray, Bertans, Livio > Miller, Martin, Bonner). We should see a better team than the end product we saw last year. Will they have a better record? Likely not, but they'll have 60 wins at least and have a higher ceiling once playoffs kick off.

It really depends how much Pop is really committed to a youth movement. I am skeptical of Pop. It's actually surprising to doubt a coach that has won so many les but he rode the coattails of a top 5 to 10 player of all time.

Now is when we are going to see if Pop can really coach and he seems to double down on the old and very skeptical to try the new.

**jehawk81** · 09-08-2016

Originally Posted by dabom

... I'm not gonna complain about every ing drive like a ing dud...

Except Parker's, right you player hater?

**MaNu4Tres** · 09-08-2016

Originally Posted by Seventyniner

Pau is a massive upgrade on offense over injured Tim too, so I'm pretty optimistic. Chemistry is the unknown, it will take a hit but we'll have to see how big it is.

There won't be the opportunity to be a " massive" upgrade. Gasol won't all of a sudden shoot 70% from the field. Passing, they're about the same. Gasoll has a leg up on mid-range jumpers but that's not a great shot and he'll make low 40% of those. It's all about efficiency and he's about as efficient as TD -- the volume won't be there to be a massive upgrade.

**~~dabom~~** · 09-08-2016

Originally Posted by jehawk81

Except Parker's, right you player hater?

Except parker has been doing it for years now. I think we gave him the benefit of the doubt in 2014.

It's gonna be 2017 next playoffs...

**MaNu4Tres** · 09-08-2016

Originally Posted by SAGirl

It really depends how much Pop is really committed to a youth movement. I am skeptical of Pop. It's actually surprising to doubt a coach that has won so many les but he rode the coattails of a top 5 to 10 player of all time.

Now is when we are going to see if Pop can really coach and he seems to double down on the old and very skeptical to try the new.

Spurs won't feel a true youth movement this year. Majority of the new youth will be players 11-15 and they won't have a relevant impact outside of limited filler minutes during the course of the regular season.

**Chinook** · 09-08-2016

Depends on how he's used. Players who can get their own shots are still very valuable. The bench could really use someone like that, which is why I think that report came out at all. Thinking Pau will just add his counting stats to those of the other starting four would be silly, but thinking that the stats show how big of a talent infusion this was is good. Pau can absolutely beat his man one-on-one. No doubt in my mind that had the team had him rather than Tim last post-season, they beat OKC and probably scare GS if not beat them.

**jehawk81** · 09-08-2016

Originally Posted by dabom

Except parker has been doing it for years now. I think we gave him the benefit of the doubt in 2014.

It's gonna be 2017 next playoffs...

You were saying you weren't "gonna complain aboutevery ing drive like a ing dud..", but you will when it's about Parker. There's nothing wrong with doing whatever you're gunna do, I'm just calling you out on ur BS

**~~dabom~~** · 09-08-2016

Originally Posted by jehawk81

You were saying you weren't "gonna complain aboutevery ing drive like a ing dud..", but you will when it's about Parker. There's nothing wrong with doing whatever you're gunna do, I'm just calling you out on ur BS

I elaborated on that statement with the second post you got.

Is this what the last of the tony slurpers looks like? Once was a big part of these parts.

**SAGirl** · 09-08-2016

Originally Posted by jehawk81

You were saying you weren't "gonna complain aboutevery ing drive like a ing dud..", but you will when it's about Parker. There's nothing wrong with doing whatever you're gunna do, I'm just calling you out on ur BS

It really gets tiring trust me. He's a lost cause. But I commend your effort.