<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MEMPHIS -- Pau Gasol may finally have made it to the big time, getting named to the Western Conference All-Star team for the first time this season. According to Celtics coach Doc Rivers, the Memphis power forward presents a matchup nightmare and is deserving of whatever honors come his way. ''Gasol is their star that nobody knows," Rivers said before his team's 93-76 loss to the Grizzlies. ''But if you look around the league and do comparisons, Gasol and Kevin Garnett are twins in a lot of ways, the way they play. You don't look at Gasol and see athletic, but he's a great athlete. He's a tough matchup like Garnett. You put a small on him and he goes into the post. You put a big on him and he's good at the elbow. ''Him, [Tim] Duncan, Shaq [O'Neal], Dirk Nowitzki -- there are certain guys in this league who are tough matchups, and you've got to put Gasol in that category." Gasol had a quiet night last night, scoring only 13 points (7.1 below his average) amid constant double-teams. But he had a game-high six assists and blocked two shots. Among the Grizzlies who played last night, Gasol is the team leader in scoring, rebounds, assists, blocks, and, by a wide margin, minutes. His minutes have increased 20 percent from last season and he is the only Grizzly who has appeared in all 64 games. And, of course, he's gone to the menacing look with the beard. Has he finally crossed the greatness threshold? ''So far, I think I am playing my best basketball," he said. ''Basically, I am just trying to step up, be more aggressive from the first day of training camp, trying to be more of a leader. I am trying to get my teammates more involved." Gasol is one of four players in the league to have led his team in points, rebounds, and assists in at least eight games this season. The others are Paul Pierce (nine), Garnett (10), and LeBron James (13).</div> Source
Great that Doc Rivers is recognising just how good Pau is. The scary thing for this league is that he's got plenty of scope left, having been brought along extremely slowly when playing in Spain. The sky is the limit.
He's a star, a mountain with big strong soft hands and quick feet-- did he play soccer like Ginobli? Memphis has found a great one to anchor this team for years. We don't hear or see much of him for a number of reasons but if he's got personality and a good agent people will start naming their babies after him. Why not? They name them after Viggo Mortensen.
Gasol soccer player? 7 footers don't do too well on a soccer pitch, mate. Got to keep the center of gravity low. Think 5'10". Or 6'1" if you're a defensive player
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunDamentalz:</div><div class="quote_post">7 footers don't do too well on a soccer pitch, mate. Got to keep the center of gravity low. Think 5'10". Or 6'1" if you're a defensive player</div> Hakeem Olajuwon credits his footwork to his soccer background.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunDamentalz:</div><div class="quote_post">7 footers don't do too well on a soccer pitch, mate. Got to keep the center of gravity low. Think 5'10". Or 6'1" if you're a defensive player</div> There have been tall soccer players who have been successful, but in general the tall ones lack the athleticism and tank to run up down the pitch for 90 minutes. Mind you, in my country's national sport we have players who are close to 7ft tall and those guys run up and down a 175m x 150m ground for 2 solid hours, covering up to 3-4 miles in a game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TDoug:</div><div class="quote_post">feet-- did he play soccer like Ginobli? </div> He played a little as a young child, but his major focus until basketball was swimming. Pau only started playing basketball at about 15, but thankfully because of his height Barca brought him in at 16 and he got a good four years of education in a quality environment where young players aren't pushed, unlike in the HS and College system in America.
There was another player whose focus before basketball was swimming. Somebody might have heard of him: Tim Duncan. I was impressed with Gasol. He's a matchup nightmare. It does look like he's not done growing into his talent. As long as he stays a power forward, he's going to be great.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting postpoint:</div><div class="quote_post"> I was impressed with Gasol. He's a matchup nightmare. It does look like he's not done growing into his talent. As long as he stays a power forward, he's going to be great.</div> There is a lot of scope, there really is. He's 25 now, but in basketball terms he's only really about 23.
