Pau Gasol Is Talented Enough, But Does He Have Postseason Toughness?

April 3rd, 2010 by Hadarii Jones Leave a reply »
Games like the Los Angeles Lakers' victory over the Utah Jazz serve as a reminder why forward Pau Gasol is such an integral piece of the Lakers' rotation and a legitimate second option behind Kobe Bryant.

Gasol has had to endure constant criticism for his lack of toughness, and the team of analysts covering the game last night made the issue a point of emphasis, as they equated Gasol's love of the opera to his soft nature.

Say what you will about Gasol, but last night's near triple-double, which included 14 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists, is an example of the type of impact he brings to the Lakers and proof positive of his importance to a repeat.

On a night when Bryant couldn't seem to find the rim, Gasol managed to dominate the game, while not standing out in any particular area, but contributing in nearly every facet of the game.

He acted as a facilitator by getting his teammates involved from the post, he played solid defense, and he was a terror on the defensive boards. He was also able to use the range on his jump shot to open up room in the paint.

It was a great all-around performance from a great player, ...

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