There was once a player who played for the greatest NBA franchise ever, in the greatest city ever, for the greatest coach ever, and for the greatest player in the league and with all the pressure on him to perform on a level he'd never ever imagined he delivered and grow to become a force known as Pau Gasol. In Memphis Pau played his heart out, but he played to the level of the team he was on. Some of those grizzlies teams were good solid teams but none of those teams were the lakers in the finals against the Celtics stuck in the garden. In very memorable games Pau showed good skill and a pure love for basketball I.E. Dirk or Larry Bird. Had it not been for the trade to the Lakers, I wouldn't be surprise if Pau would've resigned and fought his whole career off in Memphis. Nonetheless the move came and a solid player who wasn't on anyone's first team list and maybe a for sure second teamer, had to become a top tier power foward to not just assist Kobe but be Kobe's first line sometimes. The lakers were at best when those two big guys in the middle could raise their arms ball in hand. Kobe is unquestionably the most deadliest offensive closer in the league and he can carry a game like no other. But Kobe won rings when he wasn't the focus of the offense and could kill the teams best collapsing defense. Pau plays with enough offense skill along Bynum's size that can't always be denied, this front court gives Kobe the offensive punch he needs to facilitate and control. Pau took his hardest hit to the jaw in the lost to Boston yet he had his measuring point to determine what it took to play on the biggest stage with the biggest players. The lakers loss to the Celtics had alot to do with unfamiliarity to the stage as well as playing a better team. None of those Memphis teams could've gave Pau that stage. Once with the lakers Pau had that stage and learned all he could. The very next year Pau went out there and out savvied a young Dwight Howard, and then a year later had his revenge. In no way shape or form is the fan of me a laker fan what so ever, but the fan of basketball in me was happy for Pau. I'm a fan of 80's ball when you could've knock a guy down just like am a fan of when that guy gets up and become Michael Jordan on the pistons or Pau Gasol on the Lakers. I give Pau so much credit and respect for not crumbling in the second Celtic series, he showed heart and a hall of fame type of poise. I want people not from Los Angeles to understand that despite having 2 of the biggest most well known sports franchises and despite being the celebrity and entertainment capitol, this is not a sports town. I know some of my city folks will disagree but this isn't St. Louis, Boston, Chicago, or Texas. We here support our teams but the feel and love that happens year round and joins different people across a city just ain't here. Compare an angels day game against the Yankees to a cubs day game against the Cards or a clippers game to a New York football Giants or Jets home game. Even the numbers in highschool don't compare say for like basketball in Indiana or football in Texas. Sure LA produces great athletes and have championships out the ass, but the love for the sports isnt as big as it is in places where all they have is sports. I have a cousin in Indiana who tells me there biggest event of the year is parties around the time of the Indy 500 and Hoosiers games. Out here there's so much going on that sports sometimes become a backdrop in LA city life. Just ask the Maloofs, Anaheim turned them down. What's big out here is celebrity and rep, and there's alot that comes with that world. One of the biggest setbacks to the celebrity world is that its so demanding and even a simple skilled basketball player from Spain has to appease to those demands. If not then rumors swirl and cause friction out of this world. Welcome to Los Angeles this ain't Memphis Pau. Rumors grow of Pau and then fiancee's problems that supposedly involved Kobe's wife and former Laker Shannon Brown whose married to r&b singer Monica. Since this ain't a gossip blog all I'm going to say is these rumors coincidentally came around the time of a shift in Pau's game. After all the tough battles Pau started to fold and when the Lakers played Dallas in the playoffs last year the cocky lakers came out not just short but came out human and old. Pau still to this season hasn't found his consistency having good solid games here and there. To make matters even more complicated a failed deal with the hornets exposed that the lakers where ready to ship probably the most valuable trade acquisition in a long time to Houston. After interviews of Kobe defending Pau and putting heat on management, I say Pau just needs to play. Fuck it if they trade you, this same management traded Shaq who won a ring right after and almost lost Kobe on 2 different occasions. A new move won't hurt him his been playing pro a long time, he has more rings than players better than him and has good enough skills to be half the teams in the leagues first or second option, If Pau's your third then you're Miami. Honestly I'd like to see him in Chicago but I think it's highly unlikely, I hope he does stay with Kobe. They make a great one two punch and with a good third option and solid bench they'll be right back competing for the finals. Maybe a change would help Pau's game but I'll admit staying home would help the lakers, whether they get Dwight Howard or not.
posted from Bloggeroid
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