Pau Gasol: 5 Ways to Run the Offense Through the Los Angeles Lakers Forward

After calling out Los Angeles Lakers brass for more touches in the offense, Pau Gasol scored 28 points—a season-high—in a win versus the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday night.

While the Lakers have been making a conscious effort to get their bigs the ball the last three games after forcing the offense through Kobe Bryant for the majority of the season, it still hasn't been enough.

Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum need to be averaging a combined 35 shot attempts per game.

If the Lakers are going to have any success moving forward, they need to run the majority of their offense through their bigs—namely Pau Gasol.

Let's hit the chalkboard and look at five ways Mike Brown can run the offense through the seven-foot Spaniard.

Isolation in Mid-Post, Left Side

There are few players in the NBA with Pau's back-to-the-basket and face-up skill set. And while operating effectively out of both ends, Pau does his best work from the left side.

Post Pau up on an iso, with the perimeter player running off his man. 

Either Pau drops one of his signature passes to the cutting player or he's given adequate space and full range to go to work. 

Back your man in, turnaround bank shot, left-handed hook off the spin, right-handed drive to the lane, step-back jumper—it's all at the Spaniard's disposal.

Start Andrew High, Pau Low—Come Up and Set a High Screen

Another option is to start Pau on the block with Andrew Bynum at the top of the key.

Pau brings his man up to set a pick for Andrew, who rolls to the low post, and Pau is given the rock for an iso at the free-throw line.

Either the defense switches, so Bynum's man—a center—is on Pau in the open floor for a mismatch, or Pau simply works in the face-up game against his original defender.

Hit the patented Spaniard 18-foot jumper, take your man off the dribble or deliver the ball in the post to Drew with room to operate.

The Lakers biggest advantage is their size, and this offensive set puts the Lakers' Twin Towers in positions where they can be most effective.

Pau on Perimeter, Two-Man Game with Kobe

Nothing is sweeter than seeing Kobe and Pau run a two-man game.

Pau has been seeing plenty of action on the perimeter for the Lakers this season at the four—his natural position—so while on the outside, run a two-man curl game with No. 24.

In this scenario, Kobe runs his man around the back of a set Pau to get the ball. Either Pau delivers the ball to Kobe off the curl and his man leaves Pau to help on Kobe, or he simply ball fakes the pass and takes it to the rack.

Kobe and Pau have developed some serious chemistry in their three years playing together.

Isolating the two on the outside gives them sufficient room to work their magic.

High Post, Work Ball to Cutters and Drivers

Pau Gasol is the best-passing big man in the game.

Let the grand conductor—El Maestro—dictate the offense with his superb passing skills.

Give Pau the ball at the top of the key and run off-the-ball, weak-side screens, cuts and drives through the lane. 

If this action creates an open man, I guarantee you Pau will find him.

The Spaniard grew up playing point guard when he was a teenager.

He's the definition of a point-center and knows how to make the right pass.

The Good Old Low Post

Forget creativity—just put Pau in the low post.

This option should be matchup-based. If a center is guarding Pau Gasol, he should be doing all his damage from the outside with his 18-footer.

But if an undersized PF tries to guard Pau, post him up early and often.

His length, arsenal of hook shots and soft touch in the lane are a handful for smaller players, and his footwork in the post is tremendous.

Struggling on the road and staring at their longest road trip of the year—the 6-game Grammy trip—the Lakers need to find consistency on offense. And fast.

Mike Brown would be wise to design his offensive game plan around the Spaniard. He's more than capable of averaging 20 points a night. Anything less is a waste of Pau's All-Star talent.

Get him the ball, Coach.