No doubt the Los Angeles Lakers are a better team with Pau Gasol in the lineup, but just how good?  The Lakers went a respectable 8-3 in their first eleven games without Gasol in their lineup, and have only lost one of fifteen since his return.

The other big stat is the Lakers’ opponents FG%. With Gasol helping to anchor the Laker’s defense, the differential has been significant. Opponents are averaging just 91.7 points since Pau returned, almost a 7 point difference.  (Courtesy of NBATV)

Marko Jarić is returning to Europe and leaving the NBA behind him.

The 31-year-old Jarić signed with Spanish club Real Madrid to help shore up the playmaker position for Madrid with an injury to Sergio Llull.

(Talk Real Madrid and Spanish Basketball in our forum)

Jarić will be reunited with Italian coach Ettore Messina, his coach when he played alongside Manu Ginóbili for Kinder Bologna.

The trio helped the Italian club win the Euroleague and Italian league championships in 2001, nine years ago.

The 6-7 veteran guard from Serbia mutually agreed with Memphis that he would not attend training camp or any preseason games and Jarić had been granted permission to seek a new team.

Since leaving Italy in 2002 after being drafted 30th overall in the 2000 NBA Draft, Jarić has played for three NBA teams in eight seasons. He suited up for the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis.

He averaged 7.1 points and 3.6 assists in 447 career NBA games. Jarić is currently married to Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima.

This week’s quick roundup of the player performances around the world during the last few days. This week includes discussion about Aleksandr Marić’s monster month, Dirk Nowitzki to the 2010 World Championships of basketball, Tyreke Evans and the Sacramento Kings’ amazing comeback over the Chicago Bulls and more…

• The Sacramento Kings found themselves down 33 points, 83-50, with 6 minutes left in the third quarter, but would go on outscore the Chicago Bulls 52-15 the rest of the way to pull out an amazing comeback win. The King’s comeback was led by Ime Udoka, who scored 15 straight in the fourth quarter to get Sacramento rolling. Rookie sensation Tyreke Evans, who was selected over Ricky Rubio, led the Kings with 23 points. Udoka ended with 17 and Beno Udrih added 16 points. Luol Deng led Chicago with 26 points.

• Dirk Nowitzki to the World Championships? After Pau Gasol indicated that he might skip next year’s event and Yao Ming’s intention to represent China, Nowitzki chimed in about his participation. The 7-0 German was quoted by German daily “Sueddeutsche Zeitung” after he was informed about the wild card Germany had received : “Super. This wild card gives us a great perspective for the coming years. I thank FIBA and look forward to the summer of 2010.” (via TalkBasket)

• 6-11 center Aleks Marić, former Nebraska Cornhusker, was named the Euroleague’s MVP for the month of December. The Serbian-Aussie had a dominating month for Partizan Belgrade; winning EL MVP for three of the four weeks in December which included an amazing performance against Efes Pilsen in which he tallied a 49 performance index rating.

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Guillermo Jose Diaz is a 6-2 guard from Puerto Rico known for his amazing leaping ability so much so that his nickname is “Superman”.

(Discuss Puerto Rican basketball in our forum)

Diaz’s talent was noticed early when he played high school basketball at the Miami Christian School, Miami alongside future NBA’er and Puerto Rican star J.J. Barea, before moving on to Miami University.

His three years at Miami University added more to both his game and his name where he became known as a player with more than just a great vertical leap, but a player with style and technique.

In 2003-04 he led Miami in scoring and and captured All-ACC honors during both his sophomore and junior years. With 1,477 points he bagged the 10th spot on the University’s all-time scoring chart after just three years.

After his junior year, Diaz turned pro by making himself available for the 2006 NBA Draft.

He joined the Los Angeles Clippers following the 2006 NBA Draft when he was selected 52nd overall making him the fifth Puerto Rican ever drafted and the eighth to play in the NBA.

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Los Angeles Laker’s all-star forward Pau Gasol recently revealed whether he would participate in next year’s World Championships of Basketball.

The 7-0 Spaniard called his chances “remote” in a short interview with Eurosport, a popular sports magazine in Europe.

(Talk Spanish Basketball in our forum)

“The possibility that I will play is remote.” Gasol told Eurosport correspondent Gonzalo Vazquez after the Los Angeles Lakers played the New Jersey Nets.

“There comes a moment when I have to consider things seriously. The national team is one of the most important things for me, but if I want to be fit and be able to continue to play I can’t continue doing what I’ve been doing so far. There has to be a moment to rest and for sure this should be it.”

Even if Gasol ultimately decides to sit the tournament out, Spain is still a very tough team.  Without their main player, Spain still fields a very competitive team that features the likes of Ricky Rubio, Juan Carlos Navarro, Rudy Fernández, his brother Marc Gasol, among others.

Spain is still a team that can reach the medal rounds.

“By Christmas we will have a new coach” said the President of the Slovenian Basketball Federation.

And so it is: the Slovenian Basketball Federation announced the agreement with Memi Bećirović who is currently with Belgian club Base Oostende.

(Talk Slovenian Basketball in our forum)

After Jure Zdovc stepped down, the Slovenian federation decided to appoint Bečirović, who will be officially presented tomorrowBecirovic agreed on a 1+1+1 deal and will most likely leave Oostende at the end of the season.

Initial reactions by Slovenian press and fans were not the most enthusiastic ones as many expected that the Federation would try aproaching Tomo Mahoric who was Jure Zdovc’ assistant coach in the recent Eurobasket, where Slovenia captured fourth place, their highest ever.  Read the full article at TalkBasket.

Following Carlo Recalcati’s stepping down as Italy’s coach, the new man at the helm of the national team will be Simone Pianigiani.

(Talk Italian Basketball in our forum)

The 40-year-old coach who is the current head coach for Montepaschi Siena, will take charge of the national team until July 2011. The only thing left is the signing of a contract and the official presentation.

The Federal Council of the Italian Basketball Federation has already given their blessing to president Dino Meneghin for the hiring… Read the full article at TalkBasket.