Marc Gasol: "Right now I am not plan A. I am plan C, plan D"

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Marc Gasol returned to the Lakers' starting five this Friday, but he knows it will be only for one game, two at most.

How long it took Andre Drummond to overcome a minor problem with his right foot.

The arrival of the new pivot will leave the Catalan on the bench, who even assumes that at some point he could be left out of the rotation.

Although rumors have emerged in the last week about a possible contract termination, Gasol reaffirmed his commitment to the team.

But happy, happy, he is not.

Gasol had a preview of what to expect in Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Drummond's first with the team.

Not only did he lose his place in the quintet, but he played just over five minutes and all at the beginning of the fourth quarter, when the new Lakers signing had had to retire after losing a toenail.

The coach,

, keeps repeating that the three centers will have their moment, but in a press conference as honest as usual, Gasol was very clear.

"I think there is an asterisk and it is big. 'Yes' they need you. Right now I am not Plan A. I am plan C. I am plan D. You have to accept it because it is your job and for that you signed, but it is not easy. Especially when you ask if you have done something wrong, "confessed Gasol, who after the previous game, his first on the bench, had not attended the media.

And he does not exaggerate so much when he talks about Plan D, because the first seems to be Drummond, a great offensive rebounder, one of the facets in which the Lakers had lost the most this season;

the second is

, a radically opposite profile, smaller and much more offensive;

and in the playoffs the master card is to put Anthony Davis back as a five.

Gasol, more passer, more shooter and less adept at painting, fits better with La Ceja, but he will have to regain his place in the rotation.

"You try to do everything for the team. I think it's pretty obvious that I don't care about statistics. I try to protect the rebound, make the right play, help everyone. [This situation] isn't easy, but that's life. O You take it as a challenge or you move on to the next thing, "Gasol added, that yes, at 36 years old he is signing the weakest season of his career.

A 5.2 million contract

That idea, that of adapting, he repeated up to three times.

For now, this Friday he had to start due to Drummond's injury and responded with a good performance in the victory over the Sacramento Kings (94-115).

Five points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Although the statistics, as he says, are the least.

And what does Vogel say?

The only thing that can.

"People have to understand what a great player Marc Gasol is and how valuable he is to us. He is going to help us win the title. With Drummond we have more depth in that position, but we are going to need all three centers. He is one of our most important players. Today he dominated the game scoring only five minutes. That's what he does. He's a dominant defensive center who doesn't need many shots in attack. He's not going to score 20 points per game, but he helps us win ", the Lakers coach explained.

Marc Gasol signed a guaranteed

, but after the latest moves, and the recent rumors, there was an unavoidable question.

Do you want to stay with the Lakers?

The Spanish international reiterated on several occasions his commitment to the team and to helping

and

win the ring, but ... "Things can change very quickly in the NBA, as they have changed for me. I am committed to this team. It's hard to assimilate that at some point I'm going to be out of the rotation. It's never easy for a player. You want to play, you want to contribute, but we'll see. "

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