Where’s Gasol’s MVP chant?

It was basically an afterthought, the final question after a meaningless game the last week of the regular season, not that it stopped Coach Phil Jackson from answering it candidly.

Who was the Lakers’ regular-season MVP?

“I would have to say the last part of the season would have to be Pau [ Gasol],” Jackson said. “ Kobe [ Bryant] for the first 50 games, but really the last 30 I think Pau played very well for us.”

With Bryant ailing, Gasol had to be the Lakers’ main threat almost the entire first round against Oklahoma City.

He didn’t play his best in Game 6, but his two-handed follow off Bryant’s miss gave the Lakers the lead for good with half a second left. He had only nine points, his final two providing a 95-94 victory as the Lakers eliminated the Thunder, four games to two.

“It’s required, it’s needed,” Gasol said of his increased role on offense throughout the first round. “I definitely need to make sure we dominate inside and take care of the paint as much as possible. Not just me, but Andrew [ Bynum] and Lamar [ Odom].

“I want to be as aggressive as possible and as productive as possible for my team. That’s all I try to do.”

Gasol made only four of 11 shots in Game 6, but he contributed in other ways, taking 18 rebounds and adding three assists and two blocked shots.

He had 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in Game 5 at Staples Center, putting the Lakers back on track after a blowout loss in Game 4.

He came into Game 6 averaging 19.8 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 56.1% shooting in this series.

An All-Star two years in a row, Gasol got off to a slow start in the regular season after missing 17 games because of hamstring injuries.

It didn’t stop Jackson from making his end-of-season MVP comment.

“From Phil, any compliment is outstanding,” Gasol said. “Obviously, I was healthier the second part of the season, so that helped a lot. I was just trying to get ready for this run in the playoffs. I just want to continue to play well and stay healthy.”

Etc.

Ron Artest wore protective padding on his left shoulder because of a bruise he sustained in Game 5. He finished with seven points on three-for-10 shooting. . . . Reserve center DJ Mbenga dressed but did not play in Game 6. He had two laser surgeries in the last two weeks for retinal holes in his left eye and played only five minutes in the first round.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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