The Los Angeles Lakers will have Pau Gasol back in the lineup tonight after missing several games due to tendonitis in his knees. The Lakers have not been getting a lot of production out of Gasol this season, and the team is hoping he can once again become an offensive threat.
Gasol will start for the Lakers against the Charlotte Bobcats, meaning Gasol should be able to take advantage against the relatively lackluster front-court of the Bobcats. One would expect that Gasol will be fairly limited in his first game back, but Mike Trudell tweeted that Gasol claimed there is no limitation and that he has regained his explosiveness that was not present earlier in the season.
There are no restrictions for @paugasol tonight. He said he’s feeling good, has the explosion he lacked early in season back.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 18, 2012
The Lakers are currently riding a two-game winning streak and they need Gasol to step up in order to win a third consecutive. Rumors have been flying around these past couple of weeks about Gasol’s future with the Lakers and if he wants to remain here long-term, Gasol has to prove his worth.
Gasol claims that his explosiveness is back, but the only way to prove that is to go out on the court and produce.
Hopefully he will be joined by Steve Nash soon as well, who claims to be eyeing a return this upcoming weekend.