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2008-02-07

by Arthur Sezgin

Big Man on Court

Summary

Mirror, mirror on the ball, thank you for Pau Gasol

Article

Whether it’s due to injuries or key trades, it seems that reporting on the Los Angeles Lakers is just inevitable. After our last update in which we reported on the newest Laker star, Andrew Bynum, it took only a week to see the young center fall due to a major knee injury. Laker fans knew it was just too good to be true and that the cards would soon come tumbling down. Tumble they did, as that same weekend Trevor Ariza, a critical bench player, was also placed on the IR with a broken right foot. It was all too similar to last year’s plot, where the Lakers started red-hot, only to suffer detrimental injuries that would result in first-round playoff elimination.

Boy were we wrong! In a blockbuster trade by the Lakers last Friday morning, the team obtained seven-foot center/power forward from Spain, Pau Gasol, who averages a double/double every time he steps out on the court.

The Rookie of the Year in 2002 and all-star in 2006, Pau Gasol was the only reason the Memphis Grizzlies were even in the league. What did the Lakers give to Memphis to obtain the big man? Not much; Kwame Brown, who was the bane placed on all Laker fans, was gladly handed over along with rookie Javaris Crittenton, two other players and some draft picks that aren’t even going to matter for this reemerging dynasty. The Lakers are now the best looking team in the league (on paper anyway) until Bynum and Ariza return. With a star-studded starting five and one of the league’s most productive benches, the Lakers are now easily favored to get out of the West.

This recent move now has other Western Conference foes scrambling to physically match up with the Lakers. This morning divisional rivals Phoenix Suns picked up ex-Laker star and has-been talent, Shaquille O’Neal, which proves one thing: nobody wants to face the Lakers. Last night was Gasol’s debut, as the Lakers took on the New Jersey Nets on the road. Let’s just say that if last night was a sign of things to come, Lakers fans can expect to be in the Staples Center during June 2008 when the NBA Finals are played. Putting up an impressive 24 points and collecting 12 rebounds, Gasol helped the Lakers brush off the Nets by a final score of 105-90. Moreover, once Gasol learns the offense and adjusts to his new teammates, he should be even more lethal.

The Lakers are 3-1 on their current trip and with five games remaining, all against mediocre teams, they can easily return home 8-1 and with a 36-16 record. Mitch Kupchak, once enemy of the state, had Kobe Bryant exclaiming last night that “There is a God!” Good point KB.