Throughout the season there have been questions surrounding whether or not Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol would ever be able to mesh their talents together as an effective duo in the post on the basketball court. Although the season is almost over, the unexpected injuries and changes have left the questions unanswered.
Gasol has missed several games due to knee tendinitis, and a couple months later an MRI confirmed that he had plantar fasciitis. After being sidelined with the tear in his plantar fascia, Mike D'Antoni repeated constantly that the team really needed Gasol back if they were to make it in the playoffs.
According to LakersNation.com, now that Gasol is back for the remanding six games of the season and back to playing alongside with Howard, Gasol has opened up about the challenges he's faced alongside the other dominate big man.
"I think...it's always a matter of compromise...we're both inside players really. I can step outside and I can make plays from outside but I'll always be most effective from the post and having the ball inside and making plays from there and he's always been a player that's been an inside player a post player a role player, a pick and roll player, I mean. In a system that we all like to be spread out and stuff, it's been a challenge."
Gasol added that after a team practice Friday, the team has made a conscious effort to get the ball to him closer to the basket.
"Now that I'm getting more to the post and I'm making more plays, I think I'm always going to get him involved and look for him (Dwight)...sometimes too much, like I said after the game the other night."
The last question is whether or not Gasol will be back in a Lakers uniform next season. The team has made it public that their main priority is bringing back Howard, but Howard has not been vocal about his future plans.
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