As soon as Marc Gasol stepped onto the floor for the Lakers in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, his impact was immediately felt.
The Lakers center received a pass from LeBron James and, without hesitation, Gasol hit a triple in the first quarter.
He only played 20 minutes on Tuesday night, but it was better than not playing in the first game.
Gasol finished with six points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal and more tough defense for a Lakers team tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series that resumes with Game 3 Thursday night at the Staples Center.
“[Yo] I try to execute the game plan as best as possible, I try to help my teammates defensively, preventing those guards and their attacks as much as possible, ”Gasol said after Wednesday’s practice on a video conference. “Communicate, and then offensively spread out the ground, put the ball where it needs to be. Be another type of guard, or playmaker, making sure that AD [Anthony Davis] have the ball where you want and create space for the offense ”.
Kuzma with problems
Kyle Kuzma has yet to find his place in these playoffs. He has only two points in the first two games. His minutes per game have dropped to 19.5.
But Kuzma remains confident that he will contribute to the Lakers cause.
“I’m always trying to think and figure out ways,” Kuzma said. “Obviously, it’s not ideal for me in a game where I shoot the ball two or three times. I keep it one hundred percent. But I have to find ways to do things. I constantly move on the court, simply trusting that the ball and that energy of movement will find me ”.
Kuzma has missed all three of his three-point attempts, but his defense has been solid and his effort great.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said by video conference Wednesday that the hope is to make some plays to motivate Kuzma.
“There’s a mentality on my part that we can give it some more action, because we know what it’s capable of,” Vogel said. “But his role on this team is to be a secondary scoring option and defend, rebound and make all the pushing plays and then finish when the ball spins toward him.”
To read this note in Spanish click here
–
