Thunder vs. Lakers: Pau Gasol Must Be Huge for L.A. to Stave off Elimination

The Los Angeles Lakers are capable of coming back against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals, led by the Thunder 3-1. 

After a Game 1 blowout, each game has been a tightly contested, intense affair. But they won't get past Game 5 in Oklahoma City if Pau Gasol fails to show up once again.

The Spaniard was an afterthought in Game 4, managing only 10 points and five rebounds in 39 minutes of play. That's simply not good enough for the player who is supposed to be one of the finest power forwards in the game today.

Of course, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise—Gasol has been quiet for much of this series, averaging only 11.5 points in the four games. His 8.5 rebounds per contest has been helpful, but he's not being paid simply to contribute a few rebounds.

It's little wonder Kobe Bryant called him out for not being more aggressive on the offensive end (via Ramona Shelburne of ESPN):

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Pau's got to be more assertive. He's the guy that they're leaving. When he catches the ball, he's looking to pass. He's got to be aggressive. He's got to shoot the ball, drive the ball to the basket. He will be the next game.

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But ESPN's Romona Shelburne mentioned another important aspect behind Gasol's tentativeness in this series—Mike Brown's offense has devalued him as an offensive threat, unlike the Triangle offense he was so perfect in during the Phil Jackson days. 

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Andrew Bynum is the featured big man now. Gasol is the distributor. At times, he's essentially the Lakers' point guard. A 7-footer running the Lakers' offense from the high post.

He looks for his teammates first now and his own shot second. The Lakers don't run plays for him anymore. If there are touches to be had on the low block, either Bynum or Bryant is getting them.

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Still, it's not as though this is the first time, or first season, we've talked about Gasol playing too unselfishly and lacking the sort of aggressiveness on the offensive end he should display. This is a story that we've heard before.

And we all know what Gasol is capable of when he decides to dominate. In Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets, he gave the Lakers 23 points (shooting 9-of-19) and 17 rebounds after only managing a combined 12 points in Games 5 and 6.

So we know he can flip the switch.

But that was one game. If the Lakers are going to pull off a rather miraculous comeback in this series against a very good Thunder team, Gasol will have to keep that switch on for three games.

This team isn't going to win if Kobe has to go on a scoring binge—the Thunder have players in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook that can match the Black Mamba in that regard. What they don't have are low-post threats the caliber of Gasol or Bynum.

So it's all about Gasol in Game 5. If he shows up, the Lakers are capable of stealing a win and heading back home for Game 6.

If he's invisible again, the Lakers will be heading back home for good.

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