Tsakalidis missed over 30 games in the season which is when Gasol started playing center. Pau plays just like a center just like Dwight Howard and Okur but there listed as forwards.
You said Pau Gasol is a center but it's obvious that he's a PF who plays center once and a while like most PF's do.
Alot of people seem to get the whole point of this thread twisted.of course Pau Gasol puts up numbers worthy of being considered a franchise player. but shouldn't you be considered a franchise player when you're able to leade your team to places that they've never been before, and not just when the management places you as the focal point? The Griz know what the first round is like, and they know what's it's like to be swept 2 years in a row. Bottom line is..... they need to move forward.! I don't think Pau can do that being the #1 option. Regardless of his numbers, he cannot take over a game. He tried to get away from being called a soft player, but it shows through his beard.Thats all I got to say.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (arya202 @ Jun 28 2006, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well do you even need a "franchise player" to be a good franchise? Look at the Pistons.</div>Exactly you put together a team that everyone does there thing, then you don't really need a franchise player.And if you just have a franchise player does not mean you will make the playoffs. Other guys around them have to be solid. I don't know why Pau's team did not get pass the first round of the playoffs though.
While Jake Tsakalidis went down, Gasol saw alot of time at center this year. He actually played more minutes at center when Tsakadlidis went down, than Wright played at center. While Gasol's natural position is power forward, he is good enough to slide over and start at center, and be better than most of the centers starting in the league today. One thing I have noticed BCB you like people to stay at one position, don't seem to have a concept that players can play multiple positions. As for the question of whether i think Pau Gasol can be a franchise type player, my answer these days is yes. I think he has slowly been building into a franchise type player each year of his career, getting tougher through the years. He is able to attack the basket with more power these days, is better at muscling around down low for rebounds, and just not getting pushed around as much. I think in the upcoming years we will see him develop that killer instinct get better at taking over games in the fourth game, and lead his team out of the first round of the playoffs. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (arya202 @ Jun 28 2006, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well do you even need a "franchise player" to be a good franchise? Look at the Pistons.</div>You might not need a "franshise player" to be a good franchise, but it seems like you need one to win a championship in the NBA. The Pistons really are the exception to the rule, look at the championship winners before that. Wade and the Heat, Duncan and the Spurs, O'neal and the Lakers, Duncan and the Spurs again, Jordan and the Bulls, Hakeem and the Rockets, Jordan and the Bulls again, most teams that win championships have a dominant franchise player on the team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (arya202 @ Jun 28 2006, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well do you even need a "franchise player" to be a good franchise? Look at the Pistons.</div>Actually the Pistons do have a franchise player.His name is rasheed Wallace. All those guys (hamilton, Wallace, Prince, Billups) were there before him, but it wasn't until he got there that the Pistons started to run on all cylinders.
Yes, Pau Gasol does play PF. I personally think that its stupid. They should move Battier over to the PF and Pau to the center so both Mike Miller and Eddie Jones could start. But yes, Pau plays center. But it doesnt matter whether you are a dominant PF or a dominant center. Size isnt that much of a difference between the 2 positions anyways
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>One thing I have noticed BCB you like people to stay at one position, don't seem to have a concept that players can play multiple positions.</div> HeatFan32 said Gasol was a center, he's a PF, I know he can and has played center but he's a PF and plays there 90% of the time.
Gasol would be a weakness for the Grizzlies if he had to play center full time. Similar to Dirk. They are clearly better at power forward than they are at center. The only reason Gasol played at center is because the Grizzlies were too weak at that position.
gasol may be the name behind the franchise but he is not a game changer, teams scouting the grizzlies obviously mark him and mike miller as potential threats yet gasol has had 12 games of playoff basketball and not once has he lead them to a victory... and hes 'untouchable'... trade him or trade everyone else to complement him. a franchise player wins games, not necessarily championships. he has done neither. perhaps the franchise has put too much weight on his shoulders to start with
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I don't know why Pau's team did not get pass the first round of the playoffs though.</div>The Mavericks, maybe?The Pistons had a guy in Hamilton or Billups that could take the big shot, though, and also Billups just took over that series and has become a serious MVP candidate. If they had a better bench they'd probably have repeated or been in the Finals this year.
to whoever used the Pistons as an example for a team not needing a franchise player, you were way off. Chauncey Billups is a franchise player. He doesn't stand out as much bc of the talent around him. And how often can anyone put together a team with that much talent? There's been one team like that in how long?
No, not a superstar. But he will be a damn good player. He has great footwork, he's graceful, good shot, inside skills are good, good shotblocker, great passer for his size. He is very talented, but I think he slightly misses out on the superstar criteria. Maybe that's just the way the Grizzlies team is put together, so there are no superstars, but rather a team game with a few great players.
