Pau Gasol will begin the 2012-13 NBA season looking to rebound from a mostly disappointing 2011-12 campaign. Gasol was the focus of numerous trade rumors throughout the course of the season, and he never carved out a niche in Mike Brown’s new offense.
But there are reasons to believe Pau is ready for a bounce-back season, including a strong performance in the 2012 Olympics and having the privilege of playing alongside Steve Nash and Dwight Howard next season.
Before we start getting ready for the resurrection of Pau, I thought it would be fun to re-live some of his best games as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
10. December 25th, 2008 versus Boston Celtics: After losing the 2008 Finals to the Boston Celtics (including a 39-point drubbing in the deciding Game 6), the Lakers got their first shot at revenge against the Celtics on Christmas Day 2008. Gasol, who had received a lot of the blame for the team’s poor play in the previous spring’s Finals, led the Lakers to victory with 20 points, five assists and three blocks.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWeEqE50D2U
Next Page: Pau Steps up his defense against the Magic
9. 2009 NBA Finals, Game 5 versus Orlando Magic: Heading into the Lakers’ NBA Finals showdown with the Orlando Magic in 2009, fans were fully aware of Pau Gasol’s superb offensive game. His defensive skills were much less heralded, however.
Throughout the course of the series, Gasol did a good job of changing basketball fans’ opinions of his defense. Pau did a stellar job of playing one-on-one defense against Dwight Howard, and in the fifth and deciding game of the series, he hauled in 15 rebounds and blocked four shots.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuePwJebEhE
Next Page: In Kobe’s absence, Gasol burns the Spurs
8. February 8th, 2010 versus San Antonio Spurs: In the middle of the 2009-10 season, Kobe Bryant sat out five games. During the stretch without Kobe in the lineup, the Lakers posted a 4-1 record, including impressive victories on the road against Portland and Utah. Gasol had one of the best all-around games of his career, picking up the slack in Kobe’s absence. Pau burned the Spurs for 21 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists and five blocks.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijNIfiMrgWk
Next Page: Pau notches his first triple-double as a Laker
7. February 17th, 2009 versus Atlanta Hawks: In the first game after the 2009 All-Star Game, Pau Gasol notched his first triple-double as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. In only 30 minutes of action, the former Rookie of The Year finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgVgkZaRE-c
Next Page: Pau’s tip-in helps the Lakers roll past the Thunder
6. 2010 First Round, Game 6 versus Oklahoma City Thunder: The young, up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder gave the defending champion Lakers everything they could handle in the opening round of the 2010 postseason. Trailing by one point with only seconds remaining in the raucous confines of Oklahoma City, Gasol tipped in the game winning basket at the buzzer, preventing a winner-take- all Game 7 back in Los Angeles.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXG9m_KGrOM
Next Page: Gasol stymies Rockets with huge double-double
5. 2009 Conference Semifinals, Game 7 versus Houston Rockets: On their way to capturing the 2009 championship, the Lakers were pushed to seven games in the conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets, who played the majority of the series without Yao Ming.
Game 7 was never close. Gasol scored 21 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, as the Lakers cruised to a 19-point victory.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLGEYyHKkZU
Next Page: Gasol reminds fans why they loved him in the first place
4. 2012 First Round, Game 7 versus Denver Nuggets: 2011-12 was arguably the worst season of Pau Gasol’s career. Gasol was the focus of trade rumors all season long, which began after he was traded in the eventually vetoed Chris Paul trade last December. The four-time All-Star was also forced into playing a new “facilitator” type role in Mike Brown’s new offense, making room for Andrew Bynum in the low post.
Despite his tough season, Gasol showed fans flashes of brilliance. In Game 7 of the Lakers’ first round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Gasol finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSNBXJqj3U0
Next Page: In his first postseason game with the Lakers, Pau shines against Denver
3. 2008 First Round, Game 1 vs Denver Nuggets: After being acquired by the Lakers in February of 2008, Gasol helped lead the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. Gasol was great in the regular season, but Lakers fans wondered how he would perform in the postseason. Gasol quelled all doubts immediately.
In his first postseason game with the purple and gold, the Spaniard scored 36 points, snagged 16 rebounds and dished out eight dimes.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95HMrsghrsQ
Next Page: Lakers and Gasol strike first against Boston
2. 2010 NBA Finals, Game 1 versus Boston Celtics: 2010 marked the second time in three years the Los Angeles Lakers squared-off against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Pau Gasol bookended the seven-game series against the hated Celtics with two brilliant performances in Games 1 and 7.
In the series’ opening game, Gasol finished with 23 points and 14 boards, helping the Lakers take a 1-0 series lead.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thzqmMuncV8
Next Page: Gasol’s purple and gold masterpiece
1. 2010 NBA Finals, Game 7 versus Boston Celtics: Pau Gasol’s finest moment as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers came against the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
Gasol ended the game with 19 points and 18 rebounds, nine of which came on the offensive glass.
After being embarrassed by the Celtics in the 2008 Finals, many fans labeled Pau “soft.” Gasol’s Herculean performance in Game 7 temporarily silenced his critics, and helped the Lakers capture back-to-back titles.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5AAK_wP24w