In what has become a recurring theme since Mike D'Antoni took over as Lakers coach, forward Pau Gasol was benched in the fourth quarter against New Orleans. The former four-time All-Star, who recently bristled when moved to a bench role as D'Antoni placed Earl Clark in the starting lineup, expressed his displeasure after the game.

"I'm a competitor, I'm a guy that thinks I bring a lot to the table, and not being on the floor is something that I don't like, I don't appreciate," Gasol said. Gasol was asked in Spanish whether he could ever envision a time when he would be OK with sitting during the fourth quarter and tersely replied "Nunca," meaning never.D'Antoni said Gasol stayed on the bench because of the Hornets personnel who were in the game in the fourth quarter."They went small," D'Antoni said. "I couldn't get Pau back in there because of the lineup change."
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