"Pau Gasol slowly exited the Lakers' locker room and eased his 7-foot body down the hallway, taking the long, deliberate walk to the team bus.

Gasol looked worn down from all the intense pressure he has come under.

He looked weary from not being able to perform for the Lakers in the playoffs.

He looked downcast from having been the subject of so much criticism directed at him because of the Lakers' woes this postseason.

And Gasol looked beat down from the Internet rumors that have affected him and those around him.

"It's going to be a long flight home," Gasol said. "It's been a long, tough season, too."

Gasol had just 10 points on four-for-10 shooting in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks.

He had eight rebounds and six assists.

But it wasn't enough to stop the Lakers from being swept, 4-0.

When asked to look back on the series against the Mavericks, Gasol made the conversation about his personal life.

He had addressed the Internet rumors Saturday about him and Kobe Bryant having problems and that they weren't speaking to each other because Bryant was the cause of Gasol breaking up with his girlfriend."