Pau isn't the force Shaq was ... but he might fit better

Debate-provoking basketball evaluations always lead to the unleashing of numbers to initiate or advance an argument on behalf of a particular point of view.

The opening numbers for this playoff-relevant, two-on-two comparison are 5 and 3. The 5 represents the number of Los Angeles Lakers playoff games (all victories) featuring Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol on the same team. The 3 represents the number of championship rings the Lakers were able to seize while Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal were both on the payroll.

This demonstrates that while the Lakers' current 1-2 jackhammer looms as a formidable playoff partnership, it has miles to go before even sneaking up on the level of achievement recorded by the former 1-2 punch.

OK, before counting the ways that Gasol seems to be smoothly tucked inside Phil Jackson's triangle-offense machine, let's pay our respects to Shaq.

O'Neal, who was 28 years old (Pau will be 28 in July) when the Lakers began their three-peat in 2000, will leave the NBA as one of the most dominant physical forces in league history. Gasol will never inspire cold sweats from opposing coaches, scouts, players and fans as Shaq did during his halcyon days.

But within the flow-inducing properties of the triangle (and in pick-and-roll defense) Gasol offers certain upgrades that O'Neal would have been unable (or unwilling) to match.

Before going into strategic detail, let's clear the psychological air. It's rather obvious that Gasol's serenity regarding his role as second fiddle to Bryant is a major reason why his arrival from Memphis has been relatively seamless.

We also acknowledge that Shaq realized (too late) that acquiescing to the superstar efforts of a flashy young guard is not a bad way to score another O'Brien trophy. After fighting this notion (and Kobe) in L.A., O'Neal was able to reach another parade by becoming backup singer for Dwyane Wade.

Anyway, with those qualifiers offered to the basketball gods, we're now free to see how the Kobe-Pau marriage compares to Kobe-Shaq on the floor.

Let's begin with Gasol's many fine in-game characteristics. At 7-feet and a Twizzler or two shy of 260 pounds, Paul lacks the mass and the Y2K-era explosion that enabled O'Neal to pound foes into submission. But Gasol's inside-outside versatility sets him apart from any 7-footer whose name springs to mind.

He has excellent footwork and touch around the hoop. His ability to step outside and make shots is light years ahead of O'Neal's inability to do the same. While Shaq has been a fine passer, Gasol's awareness and commitment to delivering the ball on time and to the right spot is superior.

Gasol is better at filling the lane in transition ... because he wants to. Young Shaq certainly had uncanny acceleration for a building with feet, but he rarely participated in a portion of the game that exploited Bryant's speed.

Pau also has been ahead of O'Neal in reading the defense and diving to the rim for a timely pass, which may be an unfair comparison because Shaq wouldn't stray far enough from the basket to require a dive.

It also should be noted that Gasol is shooting 73 percent from the free-throw line.

With Gasol on the floor, the Lakers have an easier time working Kobe on the low post within the triangle alignment. Bryant, a match-up nightmare with his back to the basket, has more room to operate because Pau can start on the weak side block and open the basket area for Kobe by flashing to the high post. Gasol's ability to make a 15-footer requires a post defender to stay close to the free-throw line rather than help down low on Kobe.


While operating on the low post, Gasol facilitates better ball movement due to his ability to recognize a scoring advantage and quickly go to it without using a couple of dribbles and a lowered shoulder; if the move isn't there at once (usually due to a help defender), Pau will make the immediate pass. Shaq had similar diagnostic abilities and passing talent, but a greater interest in being the man meant that his pass out of a double team usually went to the teammate with an opportunity to give it back to him on the re-post.

In screen-roll offense, Gasol is a pick-and-pop option that O'Neal could only dream of being. His refusal to claim gravy as a food group enabled Pau to offer more agility at rolling to the basket after the screen, catching a pass and using balance and finesse to finish.

Although the Lakers' spacing and ball movement upgrades are obvious this season, it should be noted that the Kobe-Pau supporting cast is blessed by having greater depth of shooters and more skilled passers.

Moving to defense, we surrender to the memory that — at 7-1 and a few peanuts over 330 pounds — O'Neal was a more terrifying obstacle near the basket. However, Gasol's current average of 2.6 blocks per game is right there with Shaq's swatt-age during the Laker title years.

Defending the pick-and-roll offers perhaps the greatest separation; O'Neal basically is content to hang 5-10 feet behind the screener (the player he's guarding) and allow the ballhandler to turn the corner for a cozy jumper. Depending on how Jackson decides to deploy his "bigs" in screen-roll defense, Gasol can provide enough agility and length to assume the proper angle in hedging the ballhandler and has the quickness to return to defending the screener.

He's also capable, should the need arise, to participate in rotation schemes rather than just camp out under the basket.

So, Gasol is the heroic addition from Memphis and Shaq was chopped liver, right? No, thinking that would be absurd. But for the moment, it just seems that — abetted by Bryant's on-court maturity and magnanimous overtures — Pau is a great fit at the perfect time. Never forget that during the Lakers' three-peat days, the NBA was more of a post-and-isolation league than it is right now.

And we also should avoid any inadvertent notions that might suggest a minimization of the impact from the Bryant-O'Neal glory days. Three consecutive championships are nothing to sneeze at, especially when you're still sitting 11 victories away from a one-peat.

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They really do bring different flavors into the team. Let us just say that the Lakers are lucky to have both of them in different times for us to contend for the chip.

Pau will never be the playoff force that Shaq was. This is a really weird article, they are such different players, it's hard to draw a legitmate comparision.

shaq is a center, pau is a pf playing the center position.

The team is improved and more fun to watch than the three peat version only if full roster could be healthy for at least handful of runs.

Pau, Byno or Shaq at the low blocks. What you do with what you have matters more than what you do have or have nots... Let's do this!