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Chicago Bulls analysis: Pau Gasol, Carlos Boozer Deserve Similar Legacies for Performances in Chicago

By Paul Steeno

Jan 18, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) celebrates with forward Taj Gibson (22) and guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the game against the Detroit Pistons 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) celebrates with forward Taj Gibson (22) and guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Bulls defeated the Pistons 111-101. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pau Gasol, C, Chicago Bulls
Apr 3, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) and forward Bobby Portis (5) reach for a rebound during the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Rebounding

Surface-level stats make it appear as if Gasol was a better rebounder than Boozer.

Per 36 minutes, Boozer averaged 10.7 rebounds per game while Gasol averaged 12.4 in the same time frame. According to ESPN.com, Gasol finished sixth in the NBA the last two seasons in rebounds per game.

However, simple rebounding statistics are deceptive. Advanced statistics suggest that Gasol is one of the most overrated rebounders in the NBA.

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    • According to NBA.com, last season 6.8 of Gasol’s 8.9 defensive rebounds per game were uncontested, meaning that a defender wasn’t within a 3.5 foot radius of him when he grabbed the rebound.

    In other words, over 76 percent of his defensive rebounds last season were gimmes.

    Also, according to NBA.com, Gasol collected 60.9 percent of defensive rebounding chances (percentage of defensive rebounds a player recovers versus the number of chances defined as a rebound that comes within 3.5 feet of the player) last season.

    This put him 15th among centers that played at least 20 minutes per game last season. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but certainly not elite.

    In 2014-2015, 6.5 of Gasol’s 9.0 defensive rebounds per game (72.2 percent) were uncontested. He collected 66.9 percent of rebounding chances.

    Unfortunately, NBA.com advanced rebounding statistics only go back to the 2013-2014 season. Therefore, only one of Boozer’s four NBA seasons with the Bulls can be evaluated properly using these statistics.

    During the 2013-2014 season, 75.4 percent of Boozer’s total defensive rebounds were uncontested. However, he collected 70.4 percent of his defensive rebound chances which was the sixth highest total of all forwards that averaged at least 20 minutes per game during that season.

    The offensive rebounding statistics for both players were interesting as well.

    Gasol collected 50.5 percent of his offensive rebound chances in 2015-2016 and 62 percent in 2014-2015.

    On the contrary, Boozer collected 58.1 percent of offensive rebound chances during the 2013-2014 season.

    These numbers seem to dispel the stereotype that Boozer was “soft” on the boards during his time in Chicago.

    Before ending this discussion on rebounding, it is important to add context.

    Boozer played his entire Chicago career with vintage, pre-injury Joakim Noah who was a prolific rebounder when healthy.

    In Chicago, Boozer totaled 17 percent of the Bulls total rebounds during his four years. This percentage was lower than during his time with the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

    On the other hand, Noah missed 68 regular season games during the time he played with Gasol in Chicago. When the two players were healthy at the same time, their minutes were often staggered because of their inability to play well together.

    In addition, Gasol’s presence on the floor forced Noah away from the basket which helped Gasol lead NBA centers in rebounding chances last season. He finished second in rebounding chances during the 2014-15 season behind Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. 

    Gasol grabbed 18.4 percent of the Chicago Bulls total rebounds the last two seasons. This number was significantly higher than the 14 percent he accounted for with the Grizzlies and the 15.4 percent he chipped in with the Lakers.

    Gasol didn’t really leave the basket defensively when he played for the Bulls and that led to him getting a lot of easy rebounds. Noah’s frequent injury issues further magnified this situation.

    It isn’t too difficult to argue that Boozer was a better overall rebounder during his time in Chicago than Gasol.

    Next: Defense

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