Is Pau Gasol soft? Kobe believes so

[Saskibaloia]

Los Angeles Times

'Nice' Gasol irks Kobe

Kobe Bryant scowled at Pau Gasol for a second consecutive game, this time a few minutes into the second quarter. Bryant was angry that Gasol didn't muscle away a couple of defenders after Bryant threw an entry pass to him down low. (A foul was called on Knicks guard Wilson Chandler after Bryant's pass was deflected, but Bryant cursed at Gasol and stuck out both his elbows, as if showing Gasol how to keep defenders at bay.) "Pau's too nice. He's too nice of a guy," Bryant said.

The Spaniard was always labelled as too soft, cry baby, little boy ... etc however, I think the Euro sensation has toughened up. Though he may not be as aggressive as some other NBA post players he is definitely tougher than when he came into the league has a very skinny small forward.

[Jon_Koncak]

He is soft, he's more of a finesse player than a power one.He's still an amazingly skilled player and all but watching him struggle against old fat Shaq last Thursday made me think that he's lucky he's playin in an amazingly weak era for post players.

[rikhardur]

Pau was never what you call a pure centre. His skills are way too developed to be just that. Yeah he's soft, but can Shaq have his skilled softness? No. So I guess that makes it even.

[Straight forward]

Who wasn't struggling against Shaq when it comes to low post fights? Gasol was the only one who looked proper opponent for D. Howard in Olympics considering physical preparation. So I wouldn't call him "soft". And still most of his greatness depends on his skills and not physical power (that is decent at least).
Personally, I call him the best center in the world at the moment.

[Alyosha12]

Pau is a whiner but he is not soft imo.

8/24
12/31
4/19
4/21
14/37
10/30
9/23


I think Kobe should worry about those numbers instead of Gasol's softness.

[CG]

Pau is a whiner but he is not soft imo.

8/24
12/31
4/19
4/21
14/37
10/30
9/23


I think Kobe should worry about those numbers instead of Gasol's softness.

no man these are good numbers for NBA superstars

[Handlez73]

yeah gasol is soft !!!!! he's better to play forward (power forward or maybe a small forward) than playin at center !!!! c'mon, he's really lucky that Shaq is old and there are just few strong big men in the league

[tamagurl87]

hate him, like him...
what can you do if as center he is not doing what is expected of him, he' not for center anyway..
whatever...now, lakers has too find a substitute for shaq..
he's better as PF...and we know that..
hell, we know what he is capable of doing it's just that we are disappointed how he do the Center

[LordOfLeyte]

Bryant is a very competitive player and scowling or hollering at his teammates to produce a desired way of playing is often Bryant's medium to channel that competitive spirit. Same way Michael Jordan scowled at Luc Longly and Toni Kukoc for them to raise their defensive intensities.

[durden_tyler]

Ever since with Memphis and during his stints with the Spanish National Team he is more of a finesse player indeed--- the more politically correct term but has the same meaning as soft in basketball parlance.

Princess Pau, that's so apt a term for (her) him but that doesn't mean he is a bad player. That's why he is perfect with Bynum--- somebody that could hide his (softness) weaknesses when playing that front line. Remember when he played with the likes of Lorenzen Wright and Stromile Swift? Oh boy, people would abuse him like they would abuse a tissue paper.

Good thing that Kobe is calling him out (in fairness it's not only him he's whining about but the entire team) we will see how he responds.

[SunOverHStreet]

Am I having hallucinations or some people here connected Pau with small forward position?

He's all right, not tough like some NBA centers, but more clever and with better shooting ability than any of them. Wasn't he the one that helped Lakers and Kobe to win NBA title last year?

[durden_tyler]

Am I having hallucinations or some people here connected Pau with small forward position?

He's all right, not tough like some NBA centers, but more clever and with better shooting ability than any of them. Wasn't he the one that helped Lakers and Kobe to win NBA title last year?

Can't disagree with that at all. Thing is, people are calling him soft because that is what he is. Is he a good and effective player? Of course of course. The point of some people, led by teammate Kobe Bryant is that teams are now starting to realize how to defeat (or make him a less effective player) a Pau Gasol and that is to make him work for his shots and position by playing him real physical defense. And same way to attack him on offense with reckless abandon of body blows and maybe flying elbows because that may or may not frustrate the Spaniard.

The best point in this thread is one poster mentioning the Luc Longley and Toni Kukoc in their time with Michael--- they are by no means tough players initially, but they bought into that mentality that they have to be tougher mentally and physically if they want to play with Michael Jordan.

In short, Pau Gasol is a good player--- a very good player even but until he reaches the toughness that a Tim Duncan brings (or say Kevin Garnett's fake and thug toughness, but still effective) teams are going to look at him and decide to attack him.

[Joe Yabuki]

Pau is soft, he doesnt really like the physicality in the post (but he more than makes up for it with his basketball wits) thus making him more of a power forward, but on the contrary, his brother Marc, likes to bang bodies in the post.

[prince75]

Bryant is a very competitive player and scowling or hollering at his teammates to produce a desired way of playing is often Bryant's medium to channel that competitive spirit. Same way Michael Jordan scowled at Luc Longly and Toni Kukoc for them to raise their defensive intensities.

But Michael's shooting percentage is way above that of Kobe. The other players wouldnt mind to be scolded if their leader is doing very well on the floor.

[LordOfLeyte]

But Michael's shooting percentage is way above that of Kobe. The other players wouldnt mind to be scolded if their leader is doing very well on the floor.

Believe it or not, the great Michael Jordan was no exception to a bad night of field goal shooting and to compensate that, MJ would be in aggressive passing and facilitation mode; to what is Kobe Bryant is learning right now. Both of them have the mentality of intensifying their defense when their offense is struggling as that had been instilled by the same person; Phil Jackson. When you are the leader of team and is focused on defense, naturally you would want your teammates to do the same. "Rubbing it in, rubbing it off"