Pau Gasol has been a perfect fit for Spurs
San Antonio Spurs veteran big man Pau Gasol knows one game he might score 21 points and collect nine rebounds. Another game, it could be nine points and eight rebounds.
“I have to understand where I am in my career and why I came here,” Gasol said. “I came here to help this team be better, and ultimately help the team win a championship.
“It’s not about statistics (or) individual stuff. It’s about team accomplishment, and by the end of the year, I contribute and help this team be better and win a championship, I’ll be a happy man.”
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As he transitions to a different role late in his career, Gasol is finding his way with the Spurs. Through 17 games, Gasol is averaging 11.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 blocks, and following a slow start, his impact has been noticeable in the past nine games – regardless of his traditional box score statistics.
San Antonio is 14-3, including 10-0 on the road, and once again – despite seven new players – it will have a critical role in what happens in the Western Conference.
Gasol is one of those news faces, reaching a deal with the Spurs during free agency in July. No team replaces Tim Duncan, who retired following last season, but as alternatives go, the Spurs couldn’t have done any better than Gasol.
In several ways, Gasol is the perfect Spur: foreign-born (from Spain), skilled, smart, selfless, a willing participant on both ends of the court and keeps an ego that doesn’t interfere with team goals.
“There’s no surprise with Pau,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He’s been in the league a long time. He played all over the world. He’s exactly what we thought he would be.”
(This is fantasy, but it would have been enjoyable had Popovich coached Gasol during Gasol’s prime.)
Playing for the fourth team in his 16-year NBA career, Gasol no longer needs to score or even rebound as much as he did with the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers or even the Chicago Bulls.
It has been an adjustment – not necessarily difficult but different – finding his niche with the Spurs who have two go-to scorers: forwards Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge.
“You have to understand you’re coming to a team that’s already really good, right?” Gasol said. “And you have to figure out a way to fit in best within the personnel and how the coaching staff wants to use you and wants you to contribute. That might be different than from what you’re used to, and you have to understand the first thing here is to help the team be better and win ball games.”
In the past nine games – all victories – the Spurs have scored 112.2 points and allowed 103 points per 100 possessions with Gasol on the court. That’s much better than the 106.6 points scored and 108.9 points allowed in the first eight games.
“The first 10 games or so, it’s just of, ‘How’s it going to be?’ and trying to figure things out on your own a little bit,” Gasol said. “Now after 17 games in, you get a better picture (and) an idea of how things work and how things are going to be from now on.”
During the winning streak, Gasol had his best games of the season: 21 points and nine rebounds vs. Detroit and 24 and nine against Sacramento. He also had back-to-back 16-point games and is averaging 13.4 points and 7.7. rebounds since Nov. 11.
Gasol had no points in the Spurs’ 109-103 victory over Boston on Friday. It was just the second time in his career he didn’t score in a game – the first time since March 14, 2008.
“It’s hard for me because of my nature and the player that I am and have been for so long,” Gasol said.
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He knows the scoring will fluctuate at this point of his career and on this team.
“Rebounding is the one thing I know I can control,” Gasol said. “Consistently, that’s what I do my best at. The rest varies from game to game, and that’s just how it’s going to be I think. And that’s probably how it’s supposed to be with this team because there’s so much that we have on the floor.”
The right temperament will serve a player well with the Spurs, and Gasol knows that.
“Just being very patient and being very understanding,” he said, “and understanding what matters.”