Pivot Points: Is Pau Gasol the Key to a Los Angeles Lakers' Repeat Lock?

The hopes of a Los Angeles Lakers' repeat bid may hinge on the play of one of their most talented, versatile, and multi-dimensional players and he doesn't wear the jersey that reads No. 24.

Pau Gasol may be the key to the Lakers' chances in June, and due to his height and wide array of skills he may be the single most important player on the Lakers' roster.

It's no secret how much Gasol means to Los Angeles, because before his arrival the Lakers were on the ropes and in dire need of a savior for their season. Andrew Bynum had just went down and the Lakers' season seemed to be on the brink of disaster.

That Lakers' team had surprised the whole league through the improved play of Bynum, and were actually at the top of the Western Conference standings before his injury.

The season seemed destined to end in failure until Los Angeles was able to acquire Gasol for next to nothing. Who would have ever thought that Kwame Brown would be responsible for adding a center-piece to the Laker team?

Gasol's presence in the middle immediately upgraded the Lakers and helped propel them to the NBA Finals in 2008, and his play was instrumental in helping the Lakers secure the championship in 2009.

The manner in which Gasol blended with the Laker team speaks to his willingness to assimilate for the sake of chemistry, and the way he quickly learned the nuances of the triangle offense speaks to his intelligence.

Gasol seemed as if he was born to play in the triangle and operates out of it better than any big man that I have ever seen.

His ability as a passer allows him to assess situations from the paint, and make decisions based on the options that are presented to him, and his ability as a scorer allows him to attack when the opportunity presents itself.

He is just as important on the defensive end as well, because he serves as the anchor of the Laker defense in the middle and is responsible for recognizing switches, and helping out when needed.

His play has been vital since his return from a hamstring injury and that is reflected in the Lakers' 10-1 record since he made his way back into the lineup.

Pau's best attribute though is his consistency, as he seems to play at a level pace, and is as dependable as they come when a bucket is needed.

Pau is not the best player on his team, that designation still belongs to Kobe Bryant, but he is the most versatile and is quite possibly the best power forward in the game.

While Kobe Bryant is dealing with his recent finger injury the Lakers would be well served to let Gasol serve as the starting point for their potent offense for a variety of reasons.

The most obvious is the fact that working the ball to the post first will create more mis-matches on the offensive end, and it also creates more opportunities for other players.

Due to Gasol's superior passing ability, he would serve almost as a point guard in the paint, able to dish to the open player or create a high percentage shot for himself.

When the ball goes to the paint first, it spreads the floor and creates more space to operate in, instead of risking having the ball trapped on the perimeter by the defense.

This is a strategy that the Lakers employ often, but is something that should be tried almost exclusively, at least until Bryant makes a complete recovery from his injury, and is able to play more efficiently.

To be honest, Kobe will always be the Lakers' best option due to his ability to create points, and because he is the hardest player to guard in the NBA, but a player like Gasol means that he is no longer the only option.

Gasol is every bit the superstar player that Kobe is but with only a portion of the acclaim and glamour that follows Bryant wherever he goes.

Look no further than last year's Finals to provide proof of Gasol's value to the Laker team. His defense on Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard was pivotal in slowing Howard down and reducing the Magic to a perimeter team.

On offense, Gasol forced Howard to guard him outside of the paint which opened up the lane for other players and diminished Howard's value as a defensive threat, while still scoring points all the while.

Kobe rightfully won the Finals MVP because that award is an indication of a cumulative effort throughout the playoffs, but Gasol's play is what put the Lakers over the top in the Finals.

In order for the Lakers to repeat, they will need a healthy Kobe Bryant at the helm, but the presence of Pau Gasol in the paint gives the Lakers the best inside out combination in the NBA.