Pau Gasol
The difference in this game can easily be said to have been the absence of Pau Gasol. Pau has been the most consistent offensive player on the team, and the stagnant Bulls offense desperately needs his fundamentals on that end of the floor to keep them afloat through those tough stretches.
The Bulls experienced similar struggles in the third quarter of Game 1 when most of the guys couldn’t get much going but Gasol went 6-of-7 from the field for 13 points in that quarter, which turned out to be huge in a close seven-point win.
With the series tied and heading in to a crucial Game 5, we can expect Gasol to return to action sooner, whether he’s still ailing or not.
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