Clearly, the Lakers have had no problem offensively. In fact, they contain two of the top eight players in the league relating to player efficiency rating (PER). Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant hold 28.60 and 25.41 PERs respectively, in comparison to the league average of 14.27.
Pau Gasol has meshed with this Lakers team incredibly since his 2008 trade from the Grizzlies. Gasol averaged at least 18 points and nine boards per game in each of his two full seasons with the Lakers. His free-throw percentage has sat consistently at about 80 percent while his FG percentage has varied between 51 percent to 58.9 percent (above average for an NBA power forward).
The FT percentage surely has to have head coach Phil Jackson smiling as Gasol goes to the line, on average, six times per game, not including an "and one" just about every game (0.77 "and ones" per game).
With all those impressive stat lines, you would have to think the Lakers run their entire offense out of Gasol. (Side note: Jackson said he likes to get a post entry to Gasol on the first possession of every game.)
Crazy enough, though, Gasol's usage rate is only 24.82 percent, which ranks 15th among power forwards in the league. Obviously, this has to do with the fact that Kobe Bryant (30.32 percent USG) plays on the same team. Still, the Lakers thrive off the post entry/ kick-out...so why not get the big fella more involved?
Kobe, on the other hand, continues to show the world why he is, quite possibly, the best basketball player on the planet. His FG and three-point percentages are typical to his career averages at around 45 percent and 34 percent r...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
