Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Has Chicago Bulls’ Pau Gasol Ever Been Better?

By Dave Daniels

Jan 18, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) reacts after making a three point shot during the first half of the game against Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Bulls defeated the Pistons 111-101. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) reacts after making a three point shot during the first half of the game against Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Bulls defeated the Pistons 111-101. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Is Pau Gasol having his best season ever for the Chicago Bulls? Can you say contract year?

Pau Gasol was undoubtedly one of the biggest reasons that the Chicago Bulls were able to overcome the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-83 on Saturday night. He led his team in scoring, assists and rebounds and showed immense versatility in the way that he was affecting the game.

Gasol was even clutch. He hit a jumper early in the fourth quarter to give the Bulls a 81-69 lead that came after LeBron James had started getting some energy back into the Q by cutting Chicago’s lead down to 10. Gasol scored again to put his team up 83-69 on a tough midrange jumper, and that pretty much ended Cleveland’s chances of a comeback.

“I got going,” Gasol said to NBA.com about shooting 11 of 16 shooting in Cleveland. “The shots fell and I was able to knock them down with consistency. It doesn’t always happen. When most of your shots are 15, 20 feet from the basket, it’s not going to happen every night. But I was able to get myself going with a put back, a move on the post (early), and that’s what I need to do to be consistent.”

More from Pippen Ain't Easy

His 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists on Saturday were even more impressive than you might imagine. Sam Smith dug up this little nugget from the Elias Sports Bureau about how Gasol’s night was so historic. Here is an excerpt from Smith’s piece:

“The amazing Elias Sports Bureau reported that Gasol was the second player ever joining Karl Malone from 25 years ago to have at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists against a team with a winning percentage of at least 70 percent.

And, no, not on a Saturday night in January.

Statistics can be somewhat esoteric in this data driven era, but the numbers speak not only to Gasol’s extraordinary value to the Bulls but his high echelon place in this NBA.”

Pau should make the All-Star Game barring some grudge held by the other coaches in the league, but he has such a sterling reputation with not only former coaches, but also players and the media, that it’s hard to believe he’ll be held out of the February exhibition.

Jimmy Butler will make the team as well because of his brilliance this season, and they’ll both represent Chicago well in Toronto.

Next: Some Observations About Bulls Beating Cavs in Cleveland

The Bulls at 25-18 host the Miami Heat tonight before their seven-game road trip, and this will be a make-or-break stretch for their seeding in the playoffs. Of course, if they lose all those games, then the postseason might be a pipedream for Chicago. But Gasol’s steadiness should keep them competitive each night. And it bears asking whether or not the big man is having the best individual season of his NBA career?

Home/Bulls News