Frustrated Pau Gasol Calls Out Mike D’Antoni

Since joining the franchise in 2008 and helping raise a pair of championship banners, Pau Gasol has gained a unique understanding for what it means to be a Los Angeles Laker.

There's a certain pride in donning the purple and gold, an expectation for greatness that's been established for decades.

Oh, and there's one other part of the Laker way Gasol gets: When things go sour, blame coach Mike D'Antoni.

For the second straight season, Gasol has seen his production sapped in D'Antoni's perimeter-based system. Last season, he scored a career-worst 13.7 points per game; this year, his field-goal percentage has reached a new basement at 41.7.

Gasol said there's no secret behind his struggles, via Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times. His coach just does not know how to use his skills:

The fact that I'm not getting the ball in the post affects directly my aggressiveness. When I'm not getting the ball where I want to, where I'm most effective, where I can bang guys and utilize my skill, that affects my aggressiveness and overall intensity. ...

What do you think? I'm not going to say anything, but it's easy to see. You see a guy with a certain skill set, where does it fit better, where it doesn't.

This is probably more of a venting session than it is the start of a change. While it's clear Gasol (career 18.3 points per game on 51.5 percent shooting) has struggled with this system, D'Antoni doesn't sound like he's about to tweak his schemes for the big man.

"I can't lie to him…our numbers tell us the worst thing we do is post up," the coach said, via Plaschke.

Pau, for his part, doesn't sound like he's ready to hear D'Antoni's criticism, according to Plaschke: "I don't pay attention. Mike is sometimes all over the place, I don't give much credit to things like that."

The numbers don't lie, however. L.A. has been the NBA's worst team on t...

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