3 Reactions to Lakers Media Day
By Jacob Rude
2. Pau Gasol will be an All-Star again this season
Sep 28, 2013; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) talks to the press during media day at the Lakers Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The overwhelming sense I got from watching the media day interviews is each individual’s realization of how important Gasol is to this team. With Bryant hobbled and Nash aging, Gasol will be who this offense SHOULD be run through. Given the state of the Lakers roster, it’s built for Gasol to flourish. Putting Pau at the center position and surrounding him with shooters will space the floor for him to take his defender one-on-one and finish or use his exceptional passing ability to find the open teammate.
Even if Bryant comes back quickly, he won’t be able to carry the load he did late last year. This season is set up for a last hurrah for Gasol, who has about one more contract left in his career. He’ll be playing motivated considering it’s a contract year. Everything is aligned for Gasol to explode this season, barring injury, of course (too soon?).