After being benched for the fourth time this year in the critical moments of the fourth quarter, there's no doubt that Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol is still learning his role in the new team offense.
As Gasol continues to struggle, he remains in trade rumors, however, being traded from the team is not in his thought process as he believes in what the current team is capable of doing with all the pieces they have.
"No, oh, that's radical," Gasol said when asked whether he would request a trade following the Lakers' 107-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. "I still believe. I still have faith in what we have. I still have faith that I can be a big part in helping this team succeed. Right now, I'm not being able to do that very often."
Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said his decision to bench Gasol had nothing to do with the plantar fasciitis and knee tendinitis injuries that have plagued the two-time NBA champion.
"He just didn't have a good game," D'Antoni said.
Gasol admitted his frustration with the role he has been handed in the offense.
"It's difficult sometimes because it's not up to me to get involved," Gasol said. "I'm trying, but the times that I am at the elbows are the times that I get more involved and can make more plays from there, but it's not consistent."
Guard Kobe Bryant believes the teams problems stem from not finding a suitable way to accommodate both Gasol and Dwight Howard when they're on the court at the same time.
"We got to figure out that spacing," Bryant said. "But, he needs to have the ball. For sure."
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