Gasol gaining respect

MEMPHIS -- Pau Gasol may finally have made it to the big time, getting named to the Western Conference All-Star team for the first time this season. According to Celtics coach Doc Rivers, the Memphis power forward presents a matchup nightmare and is deserving of whatever honors come his way.

''Gasol is their star that nobody knows," Rivers said before his team's 93-76 loss to the Grizzlies. ''But if you look around the league and do comparisons, Gasol and Kevin Garnett are twins in a lot of ways, the way they play. You don't look at Gasol and see athletic, but he's a great athlete. He's a tough matchup like Garnett. You put a small on him and he goes into the post. You put a big on him and he's good at the elbow.

''Him, [Tim] Duncan, Shaq [O'Neal], Dirk Nowitzki -- there are certain guys in this league who are tough matchups, and you've got to put Gasol in that category."

Gasol had a quiet night last night, scoring only 13 points (7.1 below his average) amid constant double-teams. But he had a game-high six assists and blocked two shots. Among the Grizzlies who played last night, Gasol is the team leader in scoring, rebounds, assists, blocks, and, by a wide margin, minutes. His minutes have increased 20 percent from last season and he is the only Grizzly who has appeared in all 64 games. And, of course, he's gone to the menacing look with the beard.

Has he finally crossed the greatness threshold?

''So far, I think I am playing my best basketball," he said. ''Basically, I am just trying to step up, be more aggressive from the first day of training camp, trying to be more of a leader. I am trying to get my teammates more involved."

Gasol is one of four players in the league to have led his team in points, rebounds, and assists in at least eight games this season. The others are Paul Pierce (nine), Garnett (10), and LeBron James (13).

Michael Olowokandi did not make the trip, and his status for the remainder of the four-game road swing is not known. Rivers said Olowokandi is one hurting fellow with gum/teeth problems, which have caused an infection as well as an abscess. ''He's in pain right now, I'll tell you that," Rivers said. ''It's pretty serious stuff." . . . The Celtics scored 34 points in the first half, a season low. The previous low had been 35 against the Rockets Dec. 6, a game Rivers had cited as possibly the worst this season. Now he has two to choose from . . . Pierce did not get to the free throw line all night, save for one foul shot after a defensive three-second violation. The Grizzlies shot 34 free throws to the Celtics' 13 . . . This was the second of six straight home games for the Grizzlies (and eight of nine) as they try to fortify their hold on a playoff spot. They are in sixth place, but only 3 1/2 games ahead of No. 9 New Orleans. Memphis is 20-10 at home.

Rivers said he was going to hold off revamping his starting lineup, mainly because Raef LaFrentz and Ryan Gomes seem to be working well together. The Celtics are 9-6 in the 15 games started by LaFrentz and Gomes. Gomes did a passable job (with help) on Gasol and had 4 points and a team-high six rebounds in 21 minutes . . . The Grizzlies were without guard Bobby Jackson, who has a strained rib muscle. It was the 10th game Jackson has missed this season; Memphis is 5-5 without him . . . Celtics broadcaster Sean Grande unearthed another beauty following Boston's win over the Nuggets Sunday. Denver shot 53.4 percent from the field, the highest allowed in a Celtics win since the Knicks shot 54.3 percent Nov. 2, 2002, a span of 306 regular-season games. The common thread? Howard Eisley was on both losing teams.