After spending last season hampered with hamstring-related injuries, Lakers forward Pau Gasol took the summer off, instead choosing to sit in on spinal surgery, watch his countrymen win the World Cup in South Africa and take trips to India and Ethiopia, among other things.
It wasn’t until a few weeks prior to the start of training camp that Gasol engaged in a competitive one-on-one game against fellow Spaniard, his younger brother, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol.
Not to say that Marc didn’t put in his best effort to get older brother Pau in tip-top, regular season shape, but considering Pau’s uncharacteristic preseason numbers—averaging 17 points on 46.5 percent shooting and 7.8 rebounds—perhaps what Pau really needed was a couple of side-jabs from Lakers head coach Phil Jackson.
“I think that [Pau is] kind of easing himself into this year, I haven’t seen that spark,” Jackson told the media just prior to the start of the regular season. “He’s not quite as efficient as usual. Pau’s a 55-54 percent shooter and he hasn’t been at those numbers yet. We do hope that he finds that.”
For Pau, three victories into the regular season, due in large part to his contributing an average of 25.3 points on 52.5 percent shooting, 10.3 rebounds and five assists, one Western Conference Player of the Week award and a big fat zero in the Lakers’ loss column later, the jabs keep coming.
Except this time, Jackson referenced one of the players the Lakers had to give up in acquiring the 7-foot forward, the aforementioned Marc who Pau will have to face later on tonight as the undefeated reigning champions take on the Grizzlies.
“A lot of times we say we traded the wrong guy and tell him that Marc is a tougher, more powerful player than he is,” Jackson quipped after Monday’s practice. “[Marc] doesn’t have the shooting touch yet, but his defense, his rebounding is very good. He gets a kick out of playing against Pau. He’s actually a little more physical than Pau is. I like to bring it to [Pau’s] awareness.”
For the record, it’s no skin of Pau’s back. If anything, at least it’s an improvement from Jackson’s preseason comments about him “still being on vacation.”
“I don’t think he believes that, but obviously he’s always picking,” said Pau. “He’s always trying to have a good time, and we have fun playing around with each other.”
Next:Playing against Marc a welcome challenge for Pau Safe to say that, the other individual who likes to make Pau aware of his younger brother’s strength is Marc himself.
The burly, 7-foot-1 center, Marc has averaged 13.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, now in his third season in the NBA. In games against Pau and the Lakers, Marc’s numbers off the glass increased slightly, averaging 11.6 points and 9 rebounds. A testament perhaps, to the physicality that ensues when the two are pitted against each other. With Andrew Bynum sitting on the bench and Pau getting the start at center, he’ll have to try and maneuver around the paint with the 15-pound heavier, slightly taller Marc making things that much more difficult.
Lucky for Pau, he’s gotten better at scoring while absorbing contact.
There isn’t an advanced scout in the stands with the knowledge both Pau and Marc have for each other’s respective games. Who else knows your strength and weaknesses, inside and out, better than your most frequent one-on-one opponent?
Pau’s offense features an array of post-up moves, his on-court vision allows him to play off the defense dishing the ball to his teammates or give him some space, he’ll drain a mid-range jumper. One thing’s for certain, it could prove to be a frustrating night for Marc on the defensive end.
This will be the eighth time the brothers will have to face each other. It may not be the most anticipated sibling matchup. That probably occurred just under two months ago when the Mannings took the field, but it’s entertaining nonetheless. Although noting in the past his disinterest in facing Marc in the low post, Pau offered a different approach to Tuesday’s contest.
“It makes it so much more special. It’s always fun to go against your brother. It’s always a very competitive game,” Gasol said.
Despite his sluggish start to the preseason, the catalyst in the Jackson pick-on-Pau movement, his summer of basketball-detoxification is paying dividends in the very early stages on what will hopefully be a marathon season for the Lakers ending in mid-June. Slowly but surely, he’s starting to show why he’s remained a pillar of consistency for the Lakers since being traded by Memphis back in 2008. Pau even has the attention of the league, beating out fellow conference foes Kevin Durant and Luis Scola for Player of the Week honors, albeit the shortest week in the NBA going from 10/26 to 10/31.
Pau doesn’t plan on anyone coming in raining in on his week-one accolades parade, especially not his younger brother.
“How can I not like it?” Pau said on receiving his Player of the Week award. “Things are going well, we’re winning. I’m healthy and playing well; just got to keep it up.”