Expanding Roles, Quarter of the Season

Dec 17, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies power forward Ed Davis (32) during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 96-92 Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

The 1st quarter is all about Pau.  Remember when the 90’s Bulls would attack through Bill Cartwright or Luc Longley in the 1st quarter?  Or when the Lakers tried to establish their paint play through Shaq in the 1st?  The same goes for Gasol.  He needs a few easy opportunities to go into attack mode and throw his defenders off-guard.  He reads the defense to defer to teammates often, but his skill level is still unparalleled against bigger defenders. You can tell he loved taking Kosta Koufos and Ed Davis to school against the Grizzlies.