Safe to say that, the other individual who likes to make Pau aware of his younger brother’s strength is Marc himself.
The burly, 7-foot-1 center, Marc has averaged 13.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, now in his third season in the NBA. In games against Pau and the Lakers, Marc’s numbers off the glass increased slightly, averaging 11.6 points and 9 rebounds. A testament perhaps, to the physicality that ensues when the two are pitted against each other. With Andrew Bynum sitting on the bench and Pau getting the start at center, he’ll have to try and maneuver around the paint with the 15-pound heavier, slightly taller Marc making things that much more difficult.
Lucky for Pau, he’s gotten better at scoring while absorbing contact.
There isn’t an advanced scout in the stands with the knowledge both Pau and Marc have for each other’s respective games. Who else knows your strength and weaknesses, inside and out, better than your most frequent one-on-one opponent?
Pau’s offense features an array of post-up moves, his on-court vision allows him to play off the defense dishing the ball to his teammates or give him some space, he’ll drain a mid-range jumper. One thing’s for certain, it could prove to be a frustrating night for Marc on the defensive end.
This will be the eighth time the brothers will have to face each other. It may not be the most anticipated sibling matchup. That probably occurred just under two months ago when the Mannings took the field, but it’s entertaining nonetheless. Although noting in the past his disinterest in facing Marc in the low post, Pau offered a different approach to Tuesday’s contest.
“It makes it so much more special. It’s always fun to go against your brother. It’s always a very competitive game,” Gasol said.
Despite his sluggish start to the preseason, the catalyst in the Jackson pick-on-Pau movement, his summer of basketball-detoxification is paying dividends in the very early stages on what will hopefully be a marathon season for the Lakers ending in mid-June. Slowly but surely, he’s starting to show why he’s remained a pillar of consistency for the Lakers since being traded by Memphis back in 2008. Pau even has the attention of the league, beating out fellow conference foes Kevin Durant and Luis Scola for Player of the Week honors, albeit the shortest week in the NBA going from 10/26 to 10/31.
Pau doesn’t plan on anyone coming in raining in on his week-one accolades parade, especially not his younger brother.
“How can I not like it?” Pau said on receiving his Player of the Week award. “Things are going well, we’re winning. I’m healthy and playing well; just got to keep it up.”
