Pau Gasol Discussion: #16 Going Up In The Rafters

Speaking of which, it was Pau that saved the series against OKC back in 2010 with that putback at the buzzer. That was a tough first round.

 

What the H? Those years during the 3 peat and then Kobe in his absolute dominant prime with the crap teams prior to Pau arriving …. didn’t garner much fandom for Kobe?? What a weird statement indeed. Just seems so odd with the position he played and at the younger age that he was transfixed on Pau in Memphis? And in light of the well publicized statements Kobe made about him. Oh well it is what it was.

 

Words cannot express how much I love Pau Gasol. I had just lost my dad who was my best friend when he debuted in LA. The euphoria of Laker nation on Clublakers when we traded for him was epic, and helped me get through a tough time. As a basketball player he was sublime. Pau was so cerebral and skilled for a 7 footer. Just a perfect ying to Kobe’s yang. So happy to see 16 hang from the rafters.

 

Hang in there CLF. My prayers are with your whole family.

 

Thanks. It’s been over a decade since I lost my dad. However, it’s still tough. Lots better, but still tough.

 

for me, pau's legacy with the lakers will always be game 7 in '10

when he was needed the most, he stepped up and basically won that game with his performance while kobe was off. 19 pts and 18 rebs!

 

Kobe was so f***ing happy to get Pau in p&g. From wanting to play on Pluto instead of continuing to play for the Lakers to playing Boston in the Finals 13 months later. All because his ideal wingman came and they meshed instantly. They had more chemistry that first game together than some duos ever conjure up. I don't think any of the other bigs that were discussed would've worked nearly as well (JO, Big Ben) and Kobe probably wouldn't have been a Laker for life. Keeping Kobe here and his role in our Boston 'ship puts enough on the resumé to warrant having the jersey hoisted up.

 

This. The Kobe/Pau connection was as INSTANT as it was perfect. As a fan, after everything we’d been through in the three years leading up, it was basketball euphoria.

 

hoop iq, professionalism, and extreme talent. i think that first year pau was here was one of my favorite stretches of laker ball ever. we were delivered from some rough ball and pr and just played a beautiful, winning game. didn't even care that boston waxed us in the finals, tbh. it was an easy team to root for that was really good. and they won in a row.

 

The timing of getting Pau was incredible. We finally had a promising season that season with Bynum stepping up to his potential but then gets another freak accident injury to the knee. All hope was lost and suddenly Mitch turns scraps into Pau... everyone remembers where they were when they found out about that trade.

The Kobe and Pau connection was incredible right from the start and it was a beauty to watch. I'm going to be a mess when they put 16 next to 8/24

 

Driving home from work on Buena Vista just north of Olive Ave in that orange Scout in Burbank. Immediately mood to the moon.

 

I remember where I was. I was at work and a coworker told me in more or less a matter of fact way "The Lakers got Pau Gasol" and I was like "no they didn't you're lying". I went on ESPN and my jaw dropped. Then I saw that we didn't give Odom nor Bynum? I couldn't believe it. I told everyone who would listen at work that we were going to the finals! Well we did make it to the finals, and the unfortunate thing happened, but we rattled off 2 championships in a row, including avenging our 2008 loss to our rivals. Fun times.

 

All these memories. Beautiful.

 

Kwame Trade n Pau trade are the 2 most memorable trades post shaq era for me lol

 

Thanks again Grizz!

When you guys sending us Ja?

 

I miss Pau. And I miss Kobe. This time will never return. I am sad now.

 

one of those things where i'll always remember exactly what i was doing when i heard the news

 

yeah, it's sort of dumb, but i remember coming back to my old office after class and seeing it on my screen and being like...no way...

i also remember the paul deal (was like: we did it again! i prefer not to discuss the rest), and weirdly, the nash deal (i happened to be in rome, and i went down to the lobby computer to check on sports news).

and now i'm mad.