LOS ANGELES – Propelled by a spin to his right and two strong dribbles with his left, Pau Gasol found himself under the basket. He feigned upward with both hands and, enticing his friend Kobe Bryant to leave his feet, Gasol reversed course and sank a little hook shot from the other side of the rim.
First blood to Gasol.
The next time Bryant picked up Gasol on a switch – still early in the first quarter of their first matchup since the center left L.A. for Chicago – he made certain not to be baited by the center who anchored the Lakers’ two most recent championship teams.