Pau Gasol may be in his last days as a Laker, but he’s definitely going to go out on his own will.
Gasol has stunk it up the past 2 or 3 games, and last night was benched with one minute left in the third quarter, and never returned.
Mike D’Antoni’s excuse for the benching simply was he wanted to win the game.
That’s latin for Gasol was useless and ineffective.
Gasol thinks otherwise, and according to ESPN L.A. feels more touches in the post would enhance his game.
All my looks are jump shots,” he said. “I would like to see something closer to the basket and not just rolling, especially when Dwight is there. But we’ll see. We’ll figure it out. We’re just starting, pretty much.”
“I’m not a pure jump-shooter,” he said. “I can stretch the defense out and make a couple jumpers. But how I get going is by getting in the paint and creating off the post, things like that.
“That’s historically how I’ve been really successful and made a really good name for myself and earned my contracts. But hopefully I’ll find a way and we’ll find a way to get me a few opportunities there and get myself going in that way and be more effective.”
Gasol was asked about being pulled so early, and not returning at all.
In typical Paul Gasol fashion, he took the highroad.
“I don’t remember the last time that has happened in my career. It’s not my call. I’m a professional. When my number’s called, I’m out there.
“There must be a thought process into it. It’s a coaching decision, and I respect it. Antawn was playing well, and then [D’Antoni] wanted to go with a smaller lineup and catch up.”
Something will eventually have to give in this situation, Gasol can’t be the blame for everything, and D’Antoni will eventually have to mold his system around the players he has, or move some of them.
