Robin Lopez vs. Pau Gasol
The NBA is full of players who can compete at the highest level on any given night. But it takes special ability and endurance to perform at that level consistently – in back-to-back games, for a whole week, or a month. Good seasons have gotten even better for centers Robin Lopez and Pau Gasol since the calendar turned to 2014. Gasol’s outburst arrived right away. During the month of January, the Lakers center led his team with averages of 20.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.67 blocks per game, raising his seasonal numbers in each category during those 15 games. The month included a career-long, 10-game streak of 20-point performances for the four-time NBA All-Star from Jan. 14-31. One of Portland’s steadiest players all season, Lopez’s month of January was anything but disappointing (12.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.29 blocks). But the first-year Trail Blazer turned it up a notch this past month. In 12 February games, Lopez averaged a double-double (11.2 points, 10.3 rebounds) to go with a 2.58 blocked shot average that ranked fourth in the league for the month. And more than that, Lopez played a critical role in Portland’s four-game win streak to end February in spite of injuries to several frontline players, including three-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge.
Robin Lopez
• Recorded 22 double-doubles already this year after entering the season with 15 in his career
• Blocked a career-high seven shots on Feb. 25 at Denver
• Ranks 13th in the NBA in field goal shooting (53.4%) and 10th in blocked shots (1.66) in 2013-14
Pau Gasol
• Ranks 15th in the NBA in rebounds (10.0) and 11th in blocked shots (1.51) in 2013-14
• Scored 20 points or more in 10 straight games from Jan. 14-31, the longest such streak of his career
• amed an NBA All-Star four times (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011)