Pau Gasol and his positioning

[Real Deal]

Gasol doesn't get into position enough to capitalize on his touches. There are too many times where he's at a guard position in the triangle offense (where Bryant or Fish need to be), or he takes the high post in a second triangle variation, which disallows his low post presence.

 

Warning: my court sucks. I'm in a hurry creating the images, sorry.

 

One variation of the triangle that takes our two bigs into the post (when both are in the game, and Kobe isn't showing post with just Drew or Gasol in)...

 

http://i55.tinypic.com/20kc3dl.jpg

 

The spots show where they start (Gasol gets up the court faster than Drew, Kobe and Ron are interchangeable and Fisher has already dished the ball off at this point).

 

In fact, both guards and Ron can be interchangeable, you can ignore their positioning as long as you establish Kobe getting the ball.

 

Fisher to Ron, and then Ron passes to Bryant and cuts to and through the corner. Drew slides down to the post, Gasol over to his post, Fisher at the top of the key.

 

http://i54.tinypic.com/zl6elg.jpg

 

Notice the two triangles formed, and the spacing.

 

Kobe now has many options, and this places him as the facilitator.

 

He can make the post entry pass to Gasol. He can also drive to the rim, then kick out to Ron. He can take the shot himself.

 

While this is happening, Fisher has the option to create more space between him and Bryant, if he feels Bryant will drive and create. The more space Fisher creates, the bigger chance his man loses him and closes in on a post or Kobe.

 

Of course, Gasol and Drew can change out, depending on the match-ups.

 

In a reset, the triangle can be re-formed on the same side, opposite side, Gasol can take the high post, or it can be ditched altogether and become a two-man P&R between Kobe and a big, Ron and Fish take the corners and spot up for threes in a penetration situation.

 

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Now, to my point. Gasol has never attempted 15 FGA per game in a season. Not even with Memphis, as a primary option. The reason is because he has trouble positioning himself on the court. He is a high IQ player that is very indecisive. He holds the ball too long when down low OR up high, waits for shooters to move when the offense isn't set up that way, and he doesn't wait for the double to actually stick to him long enough to matter, and it's hurting both his FGA and his aggressiveness and effectiveness during games, forcing others to take shots late in the clock and making it much easier for opposing defenses to defend five players on the court.

 

This has been a problem for years, guys. It was a huge problem when Odom needed to become a post player pre-Gasol, and we had to rely on Kwame and Mihm, who were terrible at keeping space because they both wanted shot opportunities and didn't accept their roles correctly, to the point where Phil was starting Walton and hoping to post him up.

 

It's not about lack of touches, it's about lack of effective positioning. You can see it every game.

 

Unfortunately, when Gasol does get that position, he's not as aggressive as Bynum is, and that's why more and more are starting to value Drew's presence down low...because he's playing the role he's asked to, and he's more physical and willing to put the ball in the hoop.

 

I shouldn't have to create images and explain the triangle, though. We've been watching the same offense since Shaq was here. Difference is, we never had that post presence that Shaq gave us, not even with Drew (because he's not a willing passer, although he's improving on it slowly), and if we were looking at Gasol to be that low post presence, we were sadly mistaken, and all we needed to do was look back on his play in Memphis to confirm that.

[Real Deal]

Without Drew in the game, the Lakers go this route:

 

http://i54.tinypic.com/14smse0.jpg

 

Same concept with the two guard positions, but Ron is relocated, and Odom is on an island.

 

http://i56.tinypic.com/2njzxon.jpg

 

End result forms the triangle to the right, with a shooter (Ron) and a shooter and reset man (Odom) to the left.

 

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To establish Bryant in the post, LA can go with this...

 

http://i56.tinypic.com/55mpz5.jpg

 

Fish gets the ball to Odom, and heads to the corner (typical PG move in the triangle). Ron gives Fisher space by moving to the ball.

 

http://i51.tinypic.com/33thsif.jpg

 

Gasol gives Kobe the nice screen for him to get free and establish post. Odom puts 12-15 feet between him and Ron.

 

http://i54.tinypic.com/2vmhlig.jpg

 

Kobe completes the triangle to the left, in the post. Odom looks for the three, two-man between him and Gasol as an option, could involved him driving and finding a trailing Gasol for a dunk.