Lakers’ Gasol is a quick study, an instant hero — and homeless
- Posted by Anthony Bass on February 15th, 2008 filed in Lakers Commentary, Pau Gasol
Obtained in a trade this month with the Memphis Grizzlies, he has averaged 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in six games. Now he just needs to find a place to live in L.A.
By Steve Springer, Los Angeles Times
MINNEAPOLIS — After 15 days on the road, the Lakers are happy to be home.
All but Pau Gasol, that is. He has nothing to dream about.
For Gasol, obtained in a Feb. 1 trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, the flight to Los Angeles ended like all the other stops on this marathon trip: in a hotel bed. Obtained after the trip was already underway, Gasol flew to L.A. for a physical, stayed a few hours, and was back in the air, en route to Washington, D.C., to meet his new teammates.
The man who has become an instant hero in L.A., who has almost single-handedly transformed the image of the Lakers from playoff hopefuls to title contenders, has yet to even hear the cheers of his home crowd.
“It is very strange,” said the 7-foot, 260-pound center/forward, “but that’s just the way it is. I’ll stay in a hotel until I can find a place to live. It’s been crazy, but I am excited and motivated by the move.”
He’d be crazy not to be. Gasol has gone from a 14-37 team mired at the bottom of the Southwest Division to a Laker team that is 34-17 after Wednesday’s 117-92 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In Gasol’s six games as a Laker, he is averaging 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds, and is hitting 64.5% from the floor.
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