Pau Gasol to the Blazers

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Signing Pau is great...I've wanted a big man coach and now we have a player/bigman coach who won't have to play much...Kaman played great first half of the season then couldn't as much second half. He's an ambassador for the league...a high character guy with the hardware to back it up...HOF lock...Whiteside is going to benefit from having him as well as our younger bigs. I think it was a great hire...surprised me. Earl Watson was brought in for the same reason...player/coach to work with Dame and CJ and Wes....defensive pt guard at the end of the bench but in it at practice time.
 
https://www.blazersedge.com/2019/7/...-blazers-signing-nba-free-agency-spurs-lakers

Pau Gasol Will Embrace Mentor Role on the Blazers

Gasol spoke to members of the Portland media on a conference call Monday

Newly signed Portland Trail Blazers big man Pau Gasol was part of a conference call on Monday with Portland media to talk about joining the team. With Gasol entering his 19th year and having played on championship teams, the experience he brings to Portland was a main focus of the call. And Gasol is eager to share his experiences with the Blazers’ younger players (via Joe Freeman of the Oregonian):

“I’ll teach them the things that I’ve learned and acquired from years of experience,” he said. “I am excited about it because I think once you get to this stage of your career, it becomes a very fulfilling aspect of the game, to share knowledge, to share experience, to share wisdom and help the younger guys just like the veterans have helped me along the way in my younger years. So I think that’s part of the beauty of life, part of the beauty of sports. It’ll be fun. I love mentoring. I love being a leader in that way. So I look forward to it.”

Gasol will have a chance all season to impart his knowledge on Portland’s bigs like Zach Collins, Hassan Whiteside and Jusuf Nurkic.

The Spanish big man also made sure to note that his fire to compete still burns despite all the years he’s dedicated to the game:

“The love for the game, the competitive spirit,” Gasol said, when asked what, at age 39, drives him. “To see and push myself to newer limits and to continue to be a part of the best league in the world with the best players in the world. I still have a huge passion and fire for what I do and I love working my butt off to continue to do it at the highest level.”

You can read more from Gasol’s conference call here.

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https://www.blazersedge.com/2019/8/...tland-trail-blazers-offense-stats-plays-video

(Pretty good article. Lots if insights, vids, etc. I've only posted a snippet of what's inside......)

Pau Gasol’s Passing Could Give Portland a New Look

The 39-year-old Spaniard can benefit Portland’s offense without personally putting the ball through the net. He is one of the elite big men passers of the past two decades, a skill that doesn’t deteriorate with age.

Last year, Gasol averaged 5.2 assists per 36 minutes and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.67 (albeit in limited games and minutes). Nurkic, who impressively progressed as a distributor last season, recorded 4.2 assists per 36 minutes and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.36.

His proficiency as a passer, coupled with a willingness to prioritize finding open teammates, will keep him on the floor for the Blazers. During his most recent season, Gasol displayed three patterns in his passes within the San Antonio Spurs’ offense.

This video demonstrates Gasol’s proficiency with the handoff screen.

Play_Type_Efficiency_Gasol.jpg
 
ABM said:
https://www.blazersedge.com/2019/8/...tland-trail-blazers-offense-stats-plays-video

(Pretty good article. Lots if insights, vids, etc. I've only posted a snippet of what's inside......)

Pau Gasol’s Passing Could Give Portland a New Look

The 39-year-old Spaniard can benefit Portland’s offense without personally putting the ball through the net. He is one of the elite big men passers of the past two decades, a skill that doesn’t deteriorate with age.

Last year, Gasol averaged 5.2 assists per 36 minutes and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.67 (albeit in limited games and minutes). Nurkic, who impressively progressed as a distributor last season, recorded 4.2 assists per 36 minutes and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.36.

His proficiency as a passer, coupled with a willingness to prioritize finding open teammates, will keep him on the floor for the Blazers. During his most recent season, Gasol displayed three patterns in his passes within the San Antonio Spurs’ offense.

This video demonstrates Gasol’s proficiency with the handoff screen.

Play_Type_Efficiency_Gasol.jpg
Click to expand...
But how can he really give us a new look if he doesn't play much?
 
You know... I'm kind of rooting for Batum to dunk on Pau in Moda Center, and then hold up three fingers.
 
Scalma said:


I can’t wait until he’s back. He’s going to have an impact on the court imo.
Click to expand...

Ehhhhh let’s pump the brakes on that. Pau should get Tollivers minutes but come the playoffs... he should be cheerleader.
 
GhostOfPGA said:
Ehhhhh let’s pump the brakes on that. Pau should get Tollivers minutes but come the playoffs... he should be cheerleader.
Click to expand...

Actually, that’s when he’d be the most effective, when it usually turns into a halfcourt game. His spacing, playmaking, and experience will be big time come April.
 
Scalma said:
Actually, that’s when he’d be the most effective, when it usually turns into a halfcourt game. His spacing, playmaking, and experience will be big time come April.
Click to expand...
He’s an unbelievable passer with a super high basketball IQ. I agree it’s gonna be great and will hopefully take some of the leadership load off of Dame.
 
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