Phil Jackson and Pau Gasol relationship

Gasol's relationship with coach Phil Jackson has come into question for completely different reasons after Jackson was quite animated while approaching Gasol during timeouts in the Lakers' 98-92 loss on Friday.

"I always listen," Gasol said. "I listened to what he had to say. It wasn't shocking to me, or anything. I wasn't shocked by it; I just wanted to see his point, and what point he was trying to make more than anything through his words."

At several times in the game, Jackson made his point by hitting Gasol in the chest with his fist.

"I didn't even feel that," Gasol said Saturday.

When a reporter said that in Game 3 Jackson looked the most demonstrative he's ever been with Gasol, Jackson denied it.

"That's not true," Jackson said. "I've been animated or demonstrative with him many times. He and I have a little routine we go through about once a year where we go get into a little bit of an activity like that where I feel like he might be sitting back on his heels and he needs to get on his toes."

Asked if Jackson had ever made contact with him before when he was coaching him, Gasol said, "Maybe once, I don't know."

Jackson took Gasol's side on Saturday, commending the "exceptional" help-side defense he displayed in Game 3 and blaming some of Gasol's offensive woes on the officiating.

"I've resisted [saying] this the whole playoffs, but the NBA used to call a 'knee up the a--,' that's what they called it," Jackson said. "You couldn't lift a knee off the floor to run a guy off the post -- they've been doing that every time [against Gasol]. They're taking him out of the post and he can't get a tight post spot. We didn't complain about it against New Orleans, but the Mavs are doing the same damn thing and until the league goes back to the rules that they have about playing post play, Pau's got to move out and face the basket."

Gasol ranked 12th in the NBA in the regular season in shooting percentage, making 52.9 percent of his attempts with many looks coming in the paint and around the basket. He is shooting just 42.2 percent during the playoffs.

"So, we're kind of resigned that they're not going to change the rules, I mean, they're not going to go back to what they used to have as a rule," Jackson said. "He's going to have to go out and face the hoop and play more of a pinch post and more of an active role in screen-rolls."