Pau Gasol returned from a 15-game absence after the All-Star break and has played quite well, contributing mightily in wins over both Los Angeles clubs. That, in and of itself, was a pleasant surprise. However what was even a bigger surprise was that Gregg Popovich elected to bring him off the bench in both games, with Dewayne Dedmon starting at center. While Popovich has refused to commit to this move as being permanent, it shows: a) that the coaching staff has been paying attention to how effective Dedmon has been in Gasol’s absence, particularly on the defensive end, and b) how open-minded and flexible they’re willing to be going forward instead of returning to the status quo.
The Spurs should keep starting Dewayne Dedmon
