As a result of Kobe’s 35 assists over a three-game span, the team is starting to play together and there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.
Even though the team is finally starting fire on all cylinders, one player in the Lakers’ locker room appears to still be unhappy with his new role on the team. Head coach Mike D’Antoni continues to bring two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol off the bench in favor of up-and-comer Earl Clark and it appears to be working moving forward, but Gasol has been vocal about not wanting to be a bench player.
Gasol was benched in the fourth quarter of the win over the Hornets on Tuesday and didn’t appreciate not being on the floor to help the team pull out the victory over Anthony Davis and company.
Although Gasol continues to disapprove with D’Antoni’s methods in terms of his playing time, the team is willing and that remains the ultimate goal over Gasol’s desire to reclaim the starting job at power forward.
The results of the current seven-game road trip may very well determine the fate of Gasol’s status with the team in terms of being a starter , bench player or ultimately being trade before the deadline on Feb. 21.
Lakers Nation News
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Lakers Find Sustainable Energy, Team Chemistry Over Past 3 Games
Mike D’Antoni Has Removed ‘Bench’ Label, But Has Pau Gasol?
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Lakers News
Dwight Howard To Debut All-Star Footwear Collection [LA Times]
Lakers Forward Developing ‘Metta World Pranks’ [LA Times]
Lakers Need This Version Of Kobe Bryant [LA Times]
Watch Kobe Bryant Suggest That If He Were A PG, He’d Be The Best [LA Times]
Steve Nash Should Hear It From Suns’ Fans [LA Times]
Lakers’ Stars On The Same Page [LA Times]
Bryant Adds New Twist To Lakers’ Attack [OC Register]
Suns Don’t Have Nash Or D’Antoni, But Have Picks [OC Register]
Lakers Have Shot At Six In A Row [OC Register]
Lakers Guard Steve Nash Brings New Meaning To Point Position [LA Daily News]
LAKERS NOTEBOOK: Lakers Grow From Conflict [LA Daily News]
Lakers Forward Antawn Jamison Won’t Fret Over Playing Time [LA Daily News]
What Was Mike D’Antoni Thinking? [Silver Screen & Roll]
Writer’s Roundtable: Dwight A “Franchise Player”? [Silver Screen & Roll]
Tweetbag: Kobe Says He’s Neo, Predict Super Bowl [Silver Screen & Roll]
Pau Says He “Doesn’t Appreciate” Sitting Late [Silver Screen & Roll]
NBA News
Rudy Gay To Toronto, Eh? [SB Nation]
Can Jose Calderon Make Stars Of Detroit’s Big Men? [SB Nation]
Nets Look To Make A Statement [SB Nation]
Who Gets A Passing Mark? [SB Nation]
Report: Three-Team Trade Done Sending Rudy Gay To Toronto [Pro Basketball Talk]
Brooky Lopez Replaces Rajon Rondo In All-Star Game [Pro Basketball Talk]
Miami Needs To Get Chris Bosh More Shots [Pro Basketball Talk]
Derrick Rose Taking Full Contact In Practice As Return Nears [Pro Basketball Talk]
Players’ Union Head Billy Hunter Scrambles To Save Job Despite Controversy [Pro Basketball Talk]
Irving, Davis, Lillard Included In NBA Rising Stars Challenge [Sports City]
Sports City NBA Roundtable: What Do The Boston Celtics Do Now? [Sports City]
NBA Tweets OF The Day: Kobe Says Hello From His Helicopter [Sports City]
Report: Guard Keyon Dooling May Make Return To Boston Celtics [Sports City]