Is Pau Gasol Being Sent Back to the Lakers’ Bench?

According to Comcast’s Ric Bucher, Mike D’Antoni and the Los Angeles Lakers may move Pau Gasol back to the bench.

Source: Don’t be surprised if Pau Gasol is coming off the bench at Minnesota on Wednesday after the Lakers went 0-2 upon his return.

— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) March 26, 2013

Gasol has started in his first two games back from a partially-torn plantar fascia, and the Lakers have lost both. In those two games, he’s combined to average 5.5 points and eight rebounds on 28.8 percent shooting. He’s also logged no more than 23 minutes of action in each contest.

Should D’Antoni decide to demote Gasol once again, it seems likely Earl Clark would reclaim his role as a starting forward. Antawn Jamison remains banged up and, when healthy, remains a great option as a sixth (or seventh behind Gasol) man.

While Gasol would undoubtedly prefer to start, it makes sense to move him to the bench. At least for now.

Until Pau is completely healthy, he’ll likely be put on a minutes cap. If he’s only going to play 20 or 25 minutes a night, it benefits him to come off the pine and spend as much time away from Dwight Howard as possible.

The Lakers are being outscored by an average of 1.1 points per 100 possessions with those two on the floor together, increasing the urgency behind staggering their minutes. Playing away from Howard allows Gasol to spend more time at the 5, where he has excelled this season and is currently posting a PER of 23.2.

Provided Gasol returns to full strength, this wouldn’t have to be a permanent move (unless it works out). Prior to Marc Gasol going down, the Memphis Grizzlies were able to stagger his and Zach Randolph’s minutes, and they both started. The problem with Dwight and Pau is that if Gasol isn’t going to log 30 or 35 minutes every night, there isn’t much of an opportunity to do that. Short of removing Gasol from the game in the first minute anyway.

For now, the Lakers are better off with Gasol on the bench.

We’ve also got to understand that the Lakers need some added firepower on the bench. Their second-unit ranks 28th in points scored per game (26.9) and injecting a four-time All-Star into that rotation should bolster their performance.

We think.

Let’s not pretend Gasol isn’t a liability as he works his way back from injury either. He’s not running the floor with as much ease as he needs to, and his jumper has been flatter than a wall.

Once, or rather if, he regains his form, the rotation can be changed in time for the playoffs.

Right now, though, after watching how far Gasol still has to go before he can even feign competence, let alone give the Lakers a much-needed edge, he’s best served coming off the bench.

Whether he wants to or not.