Gasol expected to make Laker debut Tuesday
Pau Gasol took a crash course on the triangle offense Monday afternoon. Coach Phil Jackson walked Gasol through the complex offense while trying to avoid overwhelming the newest Laker in his first practice with the team.
"I'm still trying to get a feel for the triangle offense and all the options and the reads," said Gasol, who is expected to make his Lakers debut tonight against the New Jersey Nets. "I don't think it's hard to learn that offense. You just have to get used to it and get into that flow, that rhythm. I'm going to do my best to learn it."
Jackson said he expected it to take Gasol two weeks to learn the triangle.
Derek Fisher scoffed at that notion.
"He's never actually had to run it," a smiling Fisher said of Jackson. "He's only coached it, so you can't trust anything he says about the triangle."
Adopting a more serious tone, Fisher said he expected Gasol to adapt quickly.
"He's going to fit in just fine in a system that allows guys to touch the ball all the time and move and cut," Fisher said. "He's a great passing big man. He can shoot the ball from 16-17 feet and beyond. He can score on the low post. He's going to help us with rebounding. So we're excited to have him."
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Gasol on Friday from the Memphis Grizzlies -- for Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton -- with the expectation that the 7-foot center would boost their inside game while Andrew Bynum recovers from a kneecap injury.
Gasol averaged 18.9 points in 39 games for Memphis. He hasn't played in his last three games, including his final two with the Grizzlies, because of a sore back. He last played Jan. 28 against the Dallas Mavericks.
"He's a nimble player," Jackson said. "It will be important for us to get the post part of our game back. Ronny (Turiaf) has done some nice things, but we haven't had a really dedicated post part of our game (since Andrew Bynum was hurt Jan. 13)."
MEMPHIS BLUES AGAIN
Memphis owner Michael Heisley reportedly said the reason he dealt Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers last week was that one local fan told him he'd never attend another Grizzlies game as long as Gasol was the team's star player.
Gasol was booed in Memphis last season when it was revealed that he wished to be traded to a contender.
"Last year, I was a little more vocal about it," Gasol said. "It was all a big mess. It was very uncomfortable, all the booing and stuff. Or a little bit of booing, but enough to make it very uncomfortable. I didn't want to go through that.
"When people asked me, do you want to be in Memphis? I told them, all I want to do is win. Winning makes me happy. If we're not winning, I'm not happy.
So that should answer all the other questions."
BRYANT RESTS
Kobe Bryant did not practice Monday after scoring 30 points in 35 minutes in the Lakers' win Sunday over the Washington Wizards.
"It's maintenance," he said. "You've got to be smart."
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