Lakers Rumors (Facts!): Besides Andre Drummond, there are no other players on the roster that’s seven-feet tall!
Let’s relive the quote from Frank Vogel needing all three of their centers for the playoff run that will start in about two months. Those three centers will be Andre Drummond, Marc Gasol and Anthony Davis. All three are over 7′ tall but as of right now, AD is out. If Gasol is bought out, the Lakers roster will have the same issues they had before Drummond was signed.
Montrezl Harrell has been a power forward that has been playing out of position basically all year.
When the Lakers goes small, the pick and roll defense disappears and athletic big men such as Larry Nance Jr. just feasts down low.
Larry had a personal dunk contest at the end of the half.
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 27, 2021
📺 #CavsLakers on @FOXSportsCLE pic.twitter.com/BnjUkReEfs
Keeping Gasol on the roster does provide defensive options for Frank Vogel, especially with the better centers the Lakers will be facing over the month of April. Gasol has struggled on the defensive end of the floor but not as much as Harrell.
With Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Jusuf Nurkic, Ivica Zubac and Deandre Ayton shown here, the Lakers are vulnerable to allowing points in the paint, particularly through the pick and roll…
We’ll take this all day pls 😤 pic.twitter.com/24M4xqkUDE
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 22, 2021
With a combination of Gasol or Drummond on the floor with Trezl, they provide a big body to rotate from the weakside (If they are rotating correctly!) to provide some sort of rim protection at best and something for players to think about at worst. When Anthony Davis returns to form (Presumably!), this concept will strengthen an already staunch defense that is still #1 in net defense in the NBA.
Marc Gasol on offense:
He is the only 7′ with Anthony Davis out that can spread out the defense with his 3 point shooting and passing using his basketball I.Q. The Lakers offense was noticeably stagnant when Gasol was out of the lineup. No matter how bad Gasol percentages are this year, Drummond is a whole lot worse from behind the arc and passing is not what he was brought in for.
Speaking of a whole lot worse, let’s talk about LeBron James and Anthony Davis and their respective injury situations. NBA fans just assume that the superstars will be back and close to full strength. But what if they are not? Read on to see how Marc Gasol can contribute.