London Olympics: Pau Gasol could tie Olympics scoring record

After going through a Lakers’ season where he appeared lost in the high-post, Pau Gasol has found himself in the 2012 London Olympics dominating in the low block. After seeing his standing fall below Andrew Bynum in the Lakers’ pecking order, Gasol has led Spain in what could result in a gold-medal game against Team USA for the second time in four years. After wondering all year whether the Lakers truly valued his presence, Spain has shown that it needs Gasol.

The difference has proven so drastic that Gasol may finish these Games matching Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt as the only other player to lead the field in scoring in three consecutive Olympic appearances. That includes Gasol’s efforts in the 2004 Athens Olympics (22.4 points per game) and 2008 Beijing Olympics (19.6 points per game).

In the 2012 London Olympics, Gasol’s 18.9 points per game average technically puts him in fourth place overall behind Australia point guard Patty Mills (21.2), Argentina forward Luis Scola (19.7) and Argentina shooting guard Manu Ginobili (19.3). But with Team USA dispatching Australia in a quarterfinal, there’s a good chance Gasol could surpass Mills’ scoring average once these Games end. With Team USA expecting to beat Argentina in a semifinal match on Friday, Gasol could to pass Scola and Ginobili too.

Of course, that hinges on how much Gasol scores in Spain’s semifinal game Friday with Russia and its likely gold-medal game Sunday against Team USA. Gasol didn’t help his cause by posting only 10 points and 11 rebounds in Spain’s 66-59 quarterfinal victory Wednesday over France. Gasol also missed one of his free-throw attempts with 5.7 seconds remaining and Spain trailing by two in its eventual 77-74 loss to Russia last week in preliminary play. But Gasol has posted at least 20 points in four of six games. Despite his modest statistical effort against France, Gasol made two late blocks and a nifty pass inside to Marc Gasol that helped secure the victory.

Gasol mainly has his eyes set on helping Spain rectify its gold-medal loss to Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But after going through a season trying to prove his worth as a post presence for the Lakers, Gasol’s pursuit of the Olympic scoring record could help validate his cause.

RELATED:

Kobe Bryant talks trash to Pau Gasol about 2012 London Olympics

London Olympics: Kobe Bryant won’t return for 2016 Games

Pau Gasol’s work with Children’s Hospital affects patients in different ways

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com. Follow the Lakers blog on Twitter.