Lakers, Pau Gasol Anxious to Get Rolling

Kobe Bryant has not been this happy since he realized that Andrew Bynum was the key to his success.  

Then again, maybe it’s not happiness—but anxiety.  

The Lakers are coming off back-to-back performances par excellence featuring Bryant, including two wins on a tough nine game roadie.  The whole basketball world will be focused on the Lakers this Tuesday when they take on the New Jersey Nets.  

With LA set to steal the show, the headlines will most likely neglect Jason Kidd’s trade.

The Lakers have selected another jewel to complete a crown already boasting the likes of Bryant, Bynum, and Lamar Odom.  Granted, Bynum won't rejoin the crew for at least another four to five weeks, but if this team could gel before and after he returns, Lakers fans can consider calling in sick for a special day in July.

Memphis handed the Lakers a special after-Christmas gift, with LA securing Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown and his $9 million salary, Javaris Crittenton, an un-retired Aaron McKie, and the rights to Pau's younger brother Marc.

Lakers players and coaches can't wait for Pau to make an impact.

Gasol was unable to play this past Sunday in the team's rout over the Wizards because of a sore back and a lack of practice time within the triangle offense.  But before the game Gasol said, "I'm thrilled to be joining the team, hopefully make them even better, and have a great opportunity to accomplish something really special."

Phil Jackson explained why Pau did not dress: 

"We want him to practice first," the coach said. "He traveled back and forth across the country, up all night, short hours of sleep.  This isn't a fair situation for him.  We'll practice tomorrow and see how he feels."

The Laker most excited about Gasol’s arrival? 

That might just be Lamar Odom.

Odom will not be pressured as heavily for scoring, and will be able to move back to a more comfortable role as power/small/point forward.

By keeping Odom in the trade, the Lakers will undoubtedly have a formidable frontcourt.  Odom will be the smallest of the trio at 6'10".  He will be joined by a pair of seven-footers, Gasol and Bynum, creating the potential for a slew of favorable mismatches come playoff time.  

Odom, with his length and scoring ability, will easily dominate potential playoff counterparts such as Shawn Marion, Stephen Jackson, Ginobli/Finley/Barry, Josh Howard, or dare I say Paul Pierce.

The Lakers received a major upgrade, and whether or not Jerry West had anything to do with it, Kobe Bryant put it best when he said, "It's time to walk the walk."

The league has been abuzz since the trade with Paul Pierce and Avery Johnson, both surprised by the deal.

But the time for talk is over.  The Lakers must learn if they can mesh without Bynum and with Gasol.  A few weeks from now they’ll have to readjust again, incorporating both men in the lineup.

Needless to say, the upcoming weeks will answer these questions. 

And it looks like Lakers players and fans will like the results.