Pau Gasol settling nicely into new situation in Chicago

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http://www.nba.com/2014/news/feature...=iref:nbahpt3c


Gasol settling nicely into new situation in Chicago
Veteran leadership and professionalism rubbing off on Bulls
POSTED: NOV 20, 2014 10:27 AM ET
By Steve Aschburner | NBA.COM

The Bulls have Pau Gasol. The Lakers have Carlos Boozer. Had the two veteran power forwards swapped employers in a trade over the summer rather than by separate amnesty/free-agent transactions, former NBA commissioner David Stern might have roared out of retirement to Chris Paul it.

Tom Thibodeau might still be roaring today over any outcome other than Gasol signing outright with the Bulls. He had a bevy of options -- San Antonio, Oklahoma City, New York, Miami or even re-upping with the Lakers -- before taking his talents and taste for trendy restaurants to Chicago.
The talents part has worked out so well for the Bulls, Thibodeau shudders to think about the alternatives.

"I prefer not to," the Chicago coach said recently, a smile sneaking into view. "Sometimes you have good fortune."

There was a fortune involved; the Bulls had more money available than the other top teams on Gasol's list, signing him to a three-year, $22.3 million contract. They also gave him a) a chance to pursue a championship, b) in the Eastern Conference, c) in a world-class, multicultural city, d) alongside a world-class, tireless big man (Joakim Noah) capable of taking the tougher defensive assignments up front on a nightly basis. In Chicago's lineup, Gasol is the nominal center, staying close to the rim while Noah gets out on the floor to chase after the power forwards, even the "stretch fours."

But there's no quibbling with the results. The Bulls are 8-3 heading into their game at Sacramento Thursday (10:30 ET, TNT), including 6-0 on the road. Gasol, who sat out the victory over the Clippers Monday in his first game back at Staples Center, will not play against the Kings. But his work prior to the team's annual "circus trip" demonstrated a swift adjustment to and impact on Chicago's way of doing things.

At 18.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 34.8 minutes, with 48.7 percent shooting and a 21.4 PER, the 34 year old statistically is having his best season in four years. The Bulls have had a 108.0 offensive rating and 99.3 defensive rating with Gasol on the floor vs. 104.6 and 102.5 when he sits.

His low-post repertoire and passing skills gives their offense fresh looks. His rim defense has been stalwart and motivated. His leadership is quiet and professional, and he has provided some mentorship to rookie Nikola Mirotic.
"All the things Nikola is going through, Pau has gone through," Thibodeau said of the two imports. "More importantly, it's what he does. There are a lot of guys who say all the right things and do none of them. Pau does all the right things.

You have to observe and see what's in front of you and then see how you can contribute to it. That's what I've tried to do, analyze the situation, get a feel for it and add to it.
– Pau Gasol

"He comes in every day, takes care of himself. He studies. He prepares. He practices hard, he practices well, and then he goes out there and he executes. And he plays for the team -- he's not one of those guys pounding his chest, 'Look at me, look at me.' He's one of those guys who's 'Let's look at the team.' "

Boozer was the barker, his way of firing up himself and allegedly his teammates ("Gimme dat!"). The Bulls have Noah as their jumper cables and Jimmy Butler and Kirk Hinrich for pugnacity, so Gasol can slip into the "cerebral winner" role -- Toronto coach Dwane Casey called him Friday -- that suits him, even if it didn't always satisfy Kobe Bryant.

"I try to get a feel first of who we have here, the type of guys we have," Gasol said recently of his swift transition. "I didn't want to step on anybody's toes. You have to observe and see what's in front of you and then see how you can contribute to it. That's what I've tried to do, analyze the situation, get a feel for it and add to it."

Said Thibodeau: "The big thing is, he's already done it. Going from Memphis to L.A. was a big plus, he handled that transition. Winning championships. Pau is one of those guys who, because of the way he approaches things, he learns from every situation. He's grown each year he's been in the league. He's excited that this is a new challenge."

Gasol told reporters in L.A. Monday that, as much as he valued his Lakers years, he needed a change. "Just a gut feeling that I needed to move on," he said. "I needed something different. I needed to be in a different position where I could be assimilated, where I could be motivated every single day, where I could be rejuvenated."

The 7-foot Spaniard, who enjoys opera and considered a medical career, is as much aesthete as athlete. The Bulls, for their purpose, appreciate the beauty of having Gasol in their midst.

credit: nba.com