Finals Analysis Part V

Part I, II, III, IV


Ahh, my favorite position. The freaks, the bruisers, the seven-foot and uppers!!! The low-post scorers:


Center

Lakers: Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol is a little more than 7 feet tall. Let's call him 7'1". He is a bonafide low-post scorer who commands a double team against even the best of defenders (Tim Duncan, Marcus Camby) and can reliably shoot jump shots out to about 18 feet. Once again, he is a Lakers Big man with an excellent interior passing touch who doesn't mind giving it up. He's also long, quick on his feet and has an eye for the ball. He gets to rebounds that you think he shouldn't get to and tracks down the rare occasional pass from his teammates with ease, while always seeming to know exactly where the basket is in relation to his position and that of his defender(s). Lately, though, he has been missing a lot of contested layups and what Shaq calls "Chippy" shots around the basket. You get hit more in the Playoffs and the longer you stay in, the more you get hit. Gasol hasn't quite learned to adjust to that at this point. Hopefully he'll figure it out soon.

Celtics: Kendrick Perkins
Remember in 2004 when the Lakers had Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Shaquille O'Neal, but then they had to put five people on the floor so Deavan George Started? Remember how Charles Barkely said that it wasn't impressive that George was shooting 52% on 3 pointers halfway through the season because "you could put George of The Jungle out there with those other four guys"? Remember that? Well, That's Kendrick Perkins to me. He's highly capable of doing his job - which is to defend, make open dunks/layups when asked and pull down rebounds when they come his direction. But it just isn't very impressive when standing next to Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and - yes - even Rajon Rondo. The things I just said Kendrick Perkins does, that's what he can do. There was the one game where he had 114 rebounds in the first quarter against Detroit, but his Nearly averaging a low double-double against Detroit was Very Impressive for him. At barely 6'10, he's not even the tallest member of their team and is actually shorter than all three members of the Lakers' front line of Radmonovic, Odom and Gasol. He's strong though, and if Jason Maxiell can guard Dwight Howard, he shouldn't just get absolutely abused in the post by Gasol. However, don't expect him to really bother Gasol's hook shots in the lane and don't be surprised when Gasol's baseline dropsteps yield positive results early and often. In my opinion, the best way to defend against Gasol would be to give him single coverage with Perkins on the catch and a quick double team in the post, but not until the dribble. It makes no Sense to double Gasol as soon as he gets the ball because he's a much better passer when he's not thinking about dribbling than after he puts the ball down and the Lakers are great cutters. Otherwise, they can try another cross-match where Garnett guards Gasol and Perkins guards Odom. Of course, that would have to be situational because there is no way in Heavean, Earth or Hell that Perkins will stay with Lamar if he steps out to the three point arc and decides to go around him.

Advantage: Lakers

Part I, II, III, IV