Orange County Register

Comparing the Lakers’ Pau Gasol with the Ducks’ Teemu Selanne isn’t apples to apples, as the saying goes, but I couldn’t resist.

They made their “debuts” at virtually the same time Tuesday, and they both fall under the category of locally beloved imports.

(Can we say that already about Gasol? Well, given that Lakers fans already are handing their team the next half-dozen or so NBA championships, I’d say we can.)

Gasol made a much greater initial impact, scoring 24 points with 12 rebounds and five assists in the Lakers’ 105-90 victory at New Jersey.

Selanne had just one assist in the Ducks’ 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders. Then again, when was the last time the Ducks scored three goals or won game? Answer: Jan. 18. Six consecutive losses followed. Selanne’s impact clearly went beyond the box score.

Although he’s 10 years older than Gasol and his season is just starting, I believe Selanne will help the Ducks more this season than Gasol will the Lakers. The reason: chemistry.

Yes, Gasol fit in wonderfully in his first game — operating in the low post, scoring on putbacks, and catching and throwing passes in ways Kwame Brown never could. But what happens when Andrew Bynum comes back? Will there be room for both of them on the low block? Will the Lakers be able to play their all-tall front line of Gasol, Bynum and Lamar Odom against teams with quick small forwards?

These are delicate issues, and the Lakers might not have enough time to sort them all out. In this year’s playoffs, the edge still goes to San Antonio or Dallas, teams that have been there and done that with basically the same cast of characters they have now.

Although the Ducks are farther along in their season, chemistry won’t be a major hurdle, because Selanne isn’t joining the team, he’s rejoining the team. It’s only a matter of time before the Ducks start clicking. Heck, it already might have started Tuesday night.

Long term, the Gasol-Selanne debate is no contest.

As mentioned, Gasol is 10 years younger; he’s just entering his prime. This might be it for Selanne, who took more than half a season to decide if he wanted to play this year.

The Lakers’ acquisition of Gasol positions them as a Western power as long as Kobe Bryant is wearing purple and gold. The Ducks’ re-signing of Selanne is the short-term patch they needed to challenge Detroit for the ‘08 Stanley Cup.

– Michael Lev, The Orange County Register

For more on the Lakers, check out Kevin Ding’s blog.

For more on the Ducks, check out Dan Wood’s blog.

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