Gasol’s reputation
LOS ANGELES — Fair or not, Lakers forward Pau Gasol has been given the dreaded “soft” label by some fans and media members.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson addressed that label before tonight’s Game 4.
“I think that that would be a reputation that Pau came to us with,” said Jackson. “I think that’s one of the reasons perhaps we were fortunate enough to get him in the draft situation is that perhaps that had been carried with him, that perhaps he was not a center, he was more of a forward type of player. He wasn’t tough enough or powerful enough to be a center. But he’s constantly risen to the occasion in every series that we’ve gone through this year. I find it remarkable how well he’s played. I mean, he’s really taken the challenge and played very well.
“The last game obviously was not a great game for him (9 points), but we believe that he’s going to have another real good game for us. I won’t touch the soft, though (smiling).”
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