L.A. Lakers: Has Pau Gasol Claimed Lamar Odom's Title Of Mr. Inconsistent?
A bit of irony lost in the Los Angeles Lakers recent struggles is that forward Lamar Odom has probably been the most consistent player on the team, and surprisingly Odom has been the one Laker who has constantly showed up late in games.
That's right, Mr. Inconsistent himself has taken advantage of a summer spent playing in the FIBA World Championships where he was counted on for his experience and veteran leadership, and the confidence gained there has remained constant throughout the 2010-11 NBA regular season.
Odom's numbers of 15.5 points per game, 9.5 rebounds, and 56 percent shooting from the field are great, but what's even better is Odom's body language has improved, and there have been far fewer of the distant and vacant moments he is known for.
For possibly the first time in his career Odom seems to have found the passion and purpose that has been missing from his game, and he seems to understand his value in the Lakers' three-peat quest.
Maybe Odom can offer some advice and a few words of encouragement to teammate Pau Gasol, because he seems to have adopted the same inconsistent ways that have plagued Odom's career.
Gasol averages 18.4 points per game, 10.5 rebounds, and shoots 51 percent from the field, but there is another layer of truth beneath those glossy numbers.
Gasol started the season on a tear, and was even garnering serious attention for the MVP award, but recently he seems to have lost his wind and his confidence and the Lakers have suffered as a consequence.
If Kobe Bryant is the heart of the Lakers' perimeter game then the same can be said of Gasol in the interior, but lately he hasn't been living up to that mantle.
Coach Phil Jackson says Gasol looks tired, and fatigue may explain some of it, but it doesn't explain the periods of disinterest and passive play.
Gasol's skill set was made for the triangle offense, and ideally he should get a lot of looks at the basket as the focal point of the Lakers' interior offense.
But when Gasol has received the ball in scoring position he has been timid attacking the basket, and instead of using his seven foot frame to create space, he often settles for a 10-12 foot jump shot instead.
In recent games against the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs Gasol was a combined 13-23 shooting from the floor which is a decent percentage but far too few attempts.
Gasol is one of the best passing big men in the game and is unselfish by nature, but 23 combined shot attempts against the National Basketball League's elite teams is not going to get it done.
The fact that Gasol is able to post decent numbers on a limited number of shots speaks to the efficiency of his game, but imagine how effective Gasol could be if he asserted himself and played with authority.
Harder to explain is Gasol's regression on the defensive end, and even though he has never been a physical defender he has always excelled due to instincts, fundamentals and footwork.
Lately those qualities have abandoned Gasol as he has frequently found himself in bad defensive position, and opponents have taken advantage of his reputation as a player who shies away from contact.
Gasol's 12 point gem against the Celtics was made worse by the manner in which Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis bullied him around in a way that was very similar to the 2008 NBA Finals.
A player's body language says a lot and lately Gasol' s body language shows very little motivation, no passion and no sense of urgency.
Gasol has time to regain his sense of purpose, and ironically he can use Odom and his new-found consistency as a road map to the place he needs to be in order for the Lakers to realize their goals of a three-peat.
