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Los Angeles Lakers: Pau Gasol’s 5 best playoff games as a Laker

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a rebound in front of Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a rebound in front of Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Game 1 of the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs vs. Denver Nuggets

There is one game that is better statistically than Gasol’s showcase against the Utah Jazz in 2010. The best statistical playoff game of Pau Gasol’s career actually game in his first-ever playoff game with the Lakers in round one of the 2008 NBA Finals.

The Lakers traded for Pau Gasol to give Kobe Bryant a running mate and put the team over the edge to compete for the NBA Championship. While the Lakers did not ultimately win the championship in 2008, they did make it to the NBA Finals and Gasol showed why the team traded for him.

This is the highest Game Score that Gasol ever recorded in a playoff game in his career, coming in with a 37.1 Game Score. Just so you can put that into perspective, there have only been 142 playoff games that received a score of 37 or higher in NBA history.

Gasol scored 36 points on 14-20 shooting (8-8 from the free-throw line) with 16 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks. There have only been 14 games in NBA history in which a player scored 36 points, hauled in 16 rebounds and dished out eight assists.

Of the eight other players to accomplish the feat, four are Hall of Famers, two are future Hall of Famers (LeBron James and Kevin Durant), one is a potential future Hall of Famer (Luka Doncic) and one is Brad Daugherty, who stands out like a sore thumb.

It is the best statistical playoff game of Gasol’s Laker career, but it is not the best. There is a game in a much bigger situation that deserves the no. 1 spot, even if it is not impressive in the box score.

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