When the Chicago Bulls acquired Pau Gasol in the offseason it was a move that immediately vaulted them in to contender status in the Eastern Conference. While LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers got a lot of the media attention, it was Gasol joining a healthy Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Jimmy Butler that gave the Bulls arguably the most talented core in the East.
Though the Bulls knew they were getting a pretty good forward in Gasol, the truth is that many people around the league felt like the 34-year-old was in the twilight of his career. Would he be a good bench guy? Quite likely. Could he fill in if Noah or Taj Gibson were hurt? Absolutely. But Gasol has exceeded all expectations and is having his best season in five years. And some people even have him in the MVP conversation.
Hungry To Win Another Ring
One of the biggest keys to Gasol’s early success with the Bulls is his motivation to win. We have seen plenty of examples over the years of player signings that don’t work out for one reason or another but it’s clear that Gasol has the desire to win now and he has played with the enthusiasm of a much younger player. He has averaged 18.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in his first year in Chicago, and just the other night he posted a career-high 46 points and 18 rebounds in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau has talked openly about his desire to improve within the team concept every day and he said that right from the beginning, “You could tell how highly motivated Pau was”. Thibodeau’s teams have a reputation for hard work and Gasol has fit in perfectly as a player that approaches every game the same way.
A Perfect Fit For The Roster
Another aspect of Gasol’s early success with Chicago has been the player’s around him and how seamlessly he has fit in. The fact that Rose is healthy is huge for a team that is trying to build something special but Gasol’s presence and Rose’s health aren’t the only changes that have helped the Bulls turn things around. Butler has emerged as a legitimate star, averaging a team-high 20.7 points along with 6.1 rebounds per game.
Gasol has also had plenty of help on the boards and defending the interior thanks to the presence of a Defensive Player of the Year Award winner in Noah, who has averaged 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and a surprising 3.6 assists per game. Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic have helped provide depth for the big men and right now everything seems to be clicking perfectly.
Switching To The Eastern Conference
It’s also interesting to look at the success that Gasol has had and wonder how much of an impact the move to the Eastern Conference has had. Unlike in the West where he was forced to battle players like Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge, David Lee and Anthony Davis, many nights he hasn’t had to deal with the same opposition in the East. The aging Gasol hasn’t let up one bit, but the fact that he hasn’t had to deal with the rigors of going up against the best big men in the West on a nightly basis has undoubtedly helped rejuvenate him.
There are some offseason moves that turn out to be a disaster from start to finish, like Lance Stephenson’s move to the Charlotte Hornets, and some that turn out completely perfectly. For Gasol and the Bulls, it’s been the latter. Because of his motivation, the perfect mix of teammates and a conference switch has made Gasol and the Bulls a perfect match. The oddsmakers certainly agree as they’ve made the Bulls the favorite to win the East – even though they’re currently fourth in the standings.
