Final grade: Gasol

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Pau Gasol, power forward/center:
Eventually, everyone will forget about his lackluster play in the playoffs and remember that he is one of the best and most versatile big men in the league. Only a handful of players can shoot and pass and dribble and rebound as well as he can. Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks outplayed him in the playoffs. So what? He's outplayed a lot of dudes. The Lakers' ugly playoff exit overshadowed a All-Star season for Gasol, who has been remarkably consistent since his trade from Memphis in 2007-08. He has averaged 18-plus points in each of the last four seasons. He also led the Lakers in scoring 16 times and rebounding 35 times in 2010-11. With the possible exception of Kobe Bryant, no one looked as fatigued as Gasol during the final days of the regular seasons plus the playoffs. A summer of rest could be just what he needs to bounce back.

Stats: 82 games, 18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists.

Grade: A.

Next: Trey Johnson.


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the Lakers

Elliott Teaford and other Daily News and Los Angeles Newspaper Group staff writers keep tabs on the Los Angeles Lakers from the backcourt to the front office and beyond.

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This page contains a single entry by Elliott Teaford published on May 30, 2011 7:39 AM.

Final grade: Fisher was the previous entry in this blog.

Final grade: Johnson is the next entry in this blog.

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