Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace are both in the news for bringing some controversy to the Lakers, but for very different reasons.
You would think after a seven-game suspension and elbowing James Harden in the head, Metta World Peace would eat a slice of humble pie. Unfortunately, Metta is looking more like Ron Artest these days, and tweeted last night during the Thunder loss to the Heat:
“No brain, all beard.”
The post was in response to Harden’s blocking foul on LeBron James with 16 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The foul call was a crucial one, and may have cost the Thunder Game 3 in the Finals. OKC was only down by three at the time of the foul, was unable to recover to win the game. Despite a possibly bad move by Harden, Metta also looked foolish with his Twitter lash out.
Gasol is in the news again, not for bad sportsmanship, but for the controversy over whether or not the big man should remain on the Lakers. We have heard plenty of opinions before on this potential Lakers’ decision; however, Brian Bernstein of Lakers Nation writes an interesting piece on if Pau Gasol is still one of the best power forwards of the game. His career averages of 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game say he is, but Pau is also timid and shies away from contact when play gets rough. These past two years in the playoffs, when the physicality of the game intensifies Gasol has averaged career lows in points and rebounds. But should this factor weigh so heavily when compared to other All-Star power forwards? He trailed the Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh (18) this season by only 0.6 points, but averaged three more rebounds. Pau averaged more points per game than Kevin Garnett (15.8), Tim Duncan (15.4), Carlos Boozer (15) and had roughly the same as Amar’e Stoudemire (17.5).
Brian paints a great picture of this player’s number versus importance in his style of play. Make sure to read the entirety of his article here. The article is a great examination of mental toughness versus performance.
Lakers Nation News
Metta World Peace on James Harden: No Brain, All Beard
Pau Gasol Headed Back to the Grizzlies?
Phil Jackson: At Peace Away from the Game
Is Gasol Good, Bad for Lakers Moving Forward?
Brandon Roy Confirms Comeback. Do Lakers Take Look?
Lakers News
Whatever Happens to Pau, He Needs to Play More Center [Forum Blue and Gold]
World Peace Attacks Harden on Twitter [OC Register]
Westbrook Ball Fakes Chris Bosh [CBS Sports]
Bryant and Gasol’s Horse to Run at Hollywood Park [ESPN]
Grizzlies Interested in Re-Gaining Pau Gasol? [CBS Sports]
Kobe and His Father [Sports Illustrated]
Off Season Planning: Point Guards [Silver Screen and Roll]
SI’s Ballard on Bryant [Lakers Blog]
NBA News
Austin Gibbs Works Out with Phoenix Suns [Cardiac Hill]
Does Durant Think He was Fouled By Lebron James? [SB Nation]
On Dwayne Wade’s New Secondary Role and the Heat Structure [Yahoo Sports]
NBA Cheering Section: Finals Edition [OC Register]
Starting Five for Thunder Suffering on Both Ends of the Floor [NBA.com]
The 2-3-2 NBA Finals Format and the Reason Why It Changes Everything [Dime Magazine]
Lesson Learned: Maybe It’s the Heat Who Are All Grown Up [SB Nation]
Disgraced ex-NBA Referee Wins Florida Lawsuit [Yahoo Sports]
50 Greatest NBA Playoff Runs [ESPN]
What Would Team USA Under 23 Team Look Like? [ProBasketball Talk]
Phil Jackson Willing to Consider Offer from NBA Teams [OC Register]
Brandon Boss Opting for Free Agency [CBS Sports]
Should Clippers Fans Panic About the Start to the Offseason? [SB Nation]
Who is the Best Point Guard in the NBA? [Dime Magazine]
