Pivot Points: Gasol's Return Means All Is Well In Lakerland

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The moment that Los Angeles Lakers fans have been waiting for has finally arrived.

Pau Gasol is set to make his season debut tonight against the Chicago Bulls, and the throngs of purple and gold can rejoice.

It's not clear how much Gasol will play. Coach Phil Jackson estimates about 25 minutes. But to see him in any form of game action will be a joy to behold.

The Lakers haven't tanked in his absence due to the emergence of center Andrew Bynum and the continued brilliance of Kobe Bryant, but Gasol adds an element to the defending champions that seperates them from the rest of the league.

He is perhaps the most gifted seven footer around and paired with Bynum, they should restore the Laker post game to it's previous brilliance.

In his absence, reserves D.J. Mbenga and Josh Powell have received valuable playing time, but the offense has lacked the rhythm and flow that we have been accustomed to seeing.

Gasol's worth extends to the defensive end of the floor as well, as Gasol is a master of positioning. He is, in essence, the Lakers' defensive captain in the paint.

Lakers fans got beside themselves when Los Angeles was able to ride Bryant and Bynum to a quick 6-1 start, but the pain of back-to-back losses quickly brought them back down to earth.

Gone are the proclamations that questioned the need for Gasol, replaced by a hard dose of reality. In order for the Lakers to achieve their lofty goals a healthy Gasol is essential.

Pau brings much more than his considerable skills to the table, because outside of Bryant his intelligence probably runs deeper than any other player on the team.

He understands the intricacies of the triangle offense and is a master at deciphering the many ebbs and flows of game situations.

More than that, he is probably the only player that Jackson really trusts besides Bryant and Derrick Fisher to be a steadying influence if a game is in danger of getting out of hand.

Did I mention that he is among the best post passers in the NBA? His ability to hit teammates in rhythm with deft passes prevents the offense from becoming stagnant as has been the case in many outings this year.

The most significant plus in his return is that Bryant doesn't have to play in the post as much as he has been doing recently.

Kobe, in his eagerness to show off his newly refined post skills, had formed a habit of holding the ball too long which drained the shot-clock and often forced ill-timed shots or even worse, turnovers.

So while the expansion of Bryant's game is much appreciated, the return of Gasol to the post can finally allow fans to breathe an audible sigh of relief.

Finally, the Lakers can begin the task of fulfilling the promise that their exceptional talent suggests. Finally the excuses about an incomplete team will cease to exist.

Finally, the Lakers can truly begin their monumental journey on the road to a repeat. Tonight,  Pau Gasol makes his return, the planets are firmly aligned, and just maybe, all is well in Lakerland. 

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