9. 2009 NBA Finals, Game 5 versus Orlando Magic: Heading into the Lakers’ NBA Finals showdown with the Orlando Magic in 2009, fans were fully aware of Pau Gasol’s superb offensive game. His defensive skills were much less heralded, however.
Throughout the course of the series, Gasol did a good job of changing basketball fans’ opinions of his defense. Pau did a stellar job of playing one-on-one defense against Dwight Howard, and in the fifth and deciding game of the series, he hauled in 15 rebounds and blocked four shots.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuePwJebEhE
Next Page: In Kobe’s absence, Gasol burns the Spurs