Marc Gasol shone today in his preseason debut with the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (106-131) for the second consecutive game, and showed his willingness to offer his experience and veterancy for whatever his new team needs.
“I try to contribute everything that is asked of me. I try to provide leadership on and off the court, I try to bring calm in attack and defense, communication … I don’t know, a bit what I am as a player,” he explained in the press conference after the meeting.
“I try to put all my tools at the service of the team, whether for 10 minutes or 35 minutes. I don’t care. And enjoying a lot and making my teammates enjoy, that for me is also very important to win: you have to know how to make everyone enjoy your companions, “he added.
The Spanish pivot added 6 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in the 22 minutes he played in the resounding victory of the Lakers who, after defeating the Clippers on Friday in the first preseason game, today again imposed on their neighbors and rivals .
Beyond the statistics, Gasol stood out for his ability to distribute the Lakers offense with agility and from the high post.
“The team has many options both in attack and defense. There is a lot of talent, a lot of size too,” said the Spaniard, who emphasized that with his passing game he hopes to “give options” so that his teammates can “score easily.”
Gasol also insisted that these preparation games serve to “build the chemistry” of the team and admitted that “he did not know very well” Talen Horton-Tucker, who today scored 33 points and who with only 20 years is the great sensation of the team. preseason of the purple and gold.
“Every day he surprises you with something else,” he commented on his partner.
“That is very positive. He is a player who has a very great talent in attack, but I love how he defends. That is what makes him special: that ability to defend and solve problems in defense with his competitive hunger,” he added.
Gasol was measured in much of the meeting with Serge Ibaka, with whom he won the NBA ring in 2019 at the Toronto Raptors.
Ibaka, who made his debut with the Clippers in Friday’s game, had 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block today in the 20 minutes he was on the court.
The Hispanic-Congolese was one more day part of the starting quintet of some Clippers in which Ty Lue, who has taken over from Doc Rivers on the bench of the Los Angeles team, bets on Ibaka as the starting center instead of Ivica Zubac.
In any case, the Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George at the helm, conceded their second consecutive loss to a Lakers in which their two great stars: LeBron James and Anthony Davis have not yet debuted in the preseason.
