And yet there he was Sunday night, the team leader still—same as he has been throughout this Kobe-less season featuring uncommon team unity but highly inconsistent Pau production.
With Kobe Bryant and maybe Steve Nash set to come back to the team in its next practice Tuesday, Gasol tried but failed in the role of star player he isn’t quite suited for anymore. He missed 12 of 15 shots and watched from the bench as an inspired fourth-quarter rally against Portland fell just short, then said postgame he would have an MRI on his sore right ankle Monday.
Gasol, 33, had an MRI on his left foot a month ago—a muscle strain possibly from compensating for the torn plantar fascia in his right foot last season—and it’s all very unsurprising considering how big men late in the their careers consistently suffer lower-leg woes.
Gasol already has chronic tendinosis in both knees and was off his feet for three months of the summer because of regenerative procedures on those knees. That poor offseason prep made it unrealistic to think Gasol could carry the Lakers during their early-season time waiting for Bryant to be ready.
This is how it is with Gasol—so many layers to the truth, so many complications masquerading as either excuses or explanations. Even on one of his worst nights there was legitimate reason to praise him for his contributions, because his flexible and friendly ego has very much been part of the harmony these flexible and friendly Lakers have built without Bryant or Dwight Howard.
“He’s definitely the leader of this team right now,” Lakers forward Jordan Hill had said about Gasol a couple of weeks ago.
If Sunday night turns out t...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers