San Antonio Spurs: Pau Gasol is still getting it done
At the age of 37, Pau Gasol is still getting it done for the San Antonio Spurs.
Prior to joining the San Antonio Spurs at the start of last season, Pau Gasol was considered a walking double-double. In five seasons of his exalted career, he averaged more than 10 points and 10 rebounds. In two other seasons, he averaged 9.7 and 9.8 rebounds per game, so this number could have been even higher.
Since moving to the Spurs, Gasol has not been required to carry the load like he has on other teams. In two seasons in San Antonio, Gasol has only collected 23 double-doubles.
However, due to the injury-plagued season the Spurs are enduring, Gasol has been required to pick up more of the slack. This has been especially the case in the last two games, thanks to LaMarcus Aldridge being injured. For those two games, Gasol has averaged 12.5 points, 11 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 0.5 steals per game.
In fact, Gasol has put up great numbers since he was rested back on Jan. 23.
In the first game back, Gasol almost collect his second triple-double for the season. He had 14 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Some might say the resting policy of coach Gregg Popovich works.
The past 10 games
Drilling down into the last 10 games, Gasol has almost been the ultimate team player. He has only played 22.6 minutes per game, but in this time he has been incredibly productive.
Gasol is averaging 10.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, with all of these numbers being at or above his season averages. The number that is down for Gasol is his minutes per game. He is averaging 24.8 minutes per game for the season.
It is this increased efficiency that is helping the Spurs stay in third place in the Western Conference. Unfortunately for them, they have a 4-6 record in the last 10 games. However, when Gasol collected a double-double in that span, the team posted a 3-2 record.
The distributor
Gasol is a very active player on offense. When he is on the court, the Spurs are a dangerous outfit. The Spaniard has range on his shot and cannot be left unguarded. However, it is Gasol’s underrated passing ability that is helping this team win.
Gasol has had more than seven assists in a game five times this season. When this happens, the Spurs are a perfect 5-0. When the sample size is expanded to include games of five or more assists in a game, the Spurs are 8-5, which is still a good mark.
Gasol has been so good finding the open man, his season average of 3.3 assists per game is good enough for second on the team. Only Tony Parker has a better number this season, with 3.9 assists per game.
The rest of the season
The San Antonio Spurs have been surprised with the level of play they have been able to achieve and sustain with the amount of injuries to top players they’ve dealt with. Now that the All-Star break is over, the unofficial second half of the season begins.
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It remains to be seen if the Spurs can keep this level of play up for the remainder of the season, let alone into the playoffs. If they can, it will be because of the play of veterans like Gasol.