Lakers Rumors: LA Needs To Understand Pau Gasol Isn't Lamar Odom

While head coach Mike Brown has been trying to morph Pau Gasol into Lamar Odom, Gasol has been wondering what the heck is going on.

So it goes for the Los Angeles Lakers these days, who fell to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday as Gasol swung around the ball and took jump shots from the high post.

Said Gasol after the Lakers fell to 10-8 on the season, via the Orange County Register:

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"I think we can use it a little more. We have to make sure we use our interior game. Other teams do.

"As I mentioned the last game, Orlando goes to their interior game and I don't think Dwight Howard is that much (more) talented than me and Andrew in the post. Indiana used their post game with (Roy) Hibbert and (David) West. I don't think they're much more talented than we are. Why don't we? I think it's always an effective way to play the game."

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Brown contends that Gasol's passing skills and ability to hit the mid-range jump shot make him a threat at the high post. Well, despite notching 10 assists against the Pacers, Gasol also shot 4-of-12, because you can't have a power forward shooting jumpers all game long.

Brown appears to be trying to bring back Odom, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year who departed L.A. for the Dallas Mavericks this offseason. Hey, who wouldn't want to bring back last season's Odom?

But you can't simply morph Gasol into a small forward. Yes, he has good passing skills, but he also belongs in the post. His post skills have made him a four-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, not his ability as a point forward.

I don't blame Gasol for being unhappy. This isn't Lakers basketball, nor has it been effective. At least if you have him and Andrew Bynum in the post, it allows the possibility for some of the Lakers' players to make outside shots with better looks at the basket.

Brown certainly has the license to bring some creativity to the court, but he's reaching here and it will only hurt the Lakers more in the long run.