As the Los Angeles Lakers tried to fight their way to a win against the Grizzlies last night, Pau Gasol spent the entire fourth quarter on the bench. That’s something the two-time champ is certainly not used to but after a 3-for-8 performance from the field – finishing with six points and four rebounds – head coach Mike D’Antoni felt the Spaniard wasn’t contributing the way the team needed him to and replaced him with Antawn Jamison.
After the game D’Antoni explained his decision : “I was thinking, ‘Boy, I’d like to win this game.’ That was the reason.”
Gasol said the decision was the coach’s to make, but stressed that he needs more touches in the low post to be effective.
“I don’t remember the last time that has happened in my career. It’s not my call. I’m a professional. When my number’s called, I’m out there. There must be a thought process into it. It’s a coaching decision, and I respect it. Antawn was playing well, and then [D’Antoni] wanted to go with a smaller lineup and catch up.
“All my looks are jump shots,” he said. “I would like to see something closer to the basket and not just rolling, especially when Dwight is there. But we’ll see. We’ll figure it out. We’re just starting, pretty much.”
