Chicago’s Pau Gasol Proving His Tank is Still Full

Many NBA observers wondered what big man Pau Gasol at age 34 had left to give the Chicago Bulls when he signed a deal for three years this past summer.

Gasol never had any doubts he could still be as good as he has always been and help his new team make a deep run into the postseason.

Chicago currently is in first place in the Central division by 4.5 games and in third place in the Eastern Conference with an overall record of 24-10. The Bulls are just 1 ½ games behind first place Atlanta and a half game behind second place Toronto.

The Bulls have won two straight and 9 of their past 10 overall.

Gasol is a big part of the Bulls success and has quieted any doubts about his play. He has proven he is of All-Star caliber and has given Chicago the type player the team has missed for years: a dependable scorer who plays with his back to the basket who is able to take games over when it is needed.

Saturday night Gasol proved that in the Bulls overtime win of 109-104 against the Boston Celtics. Gasol had 29 points on the night, while hauling down 16 boards and blocking 5 shots.

Joakim Noah the team’s starting center said Gasol gives the team a different dimension that it has not had.

Gasol did this on a night that Chicago played without Mike Dunleavy, Jimmy Butler and while Derrick Rose is amidst a career worst shooting slump over his past four games, is what makes the performance by Gasol all the much more impressive.

The consistency Gasol brings night after night has defined his season. He said he is once again healthy and rejuvenated in Chicago and his numbers support that.

Over the last four games, he has a combined for 76 points, 38 boards and 17 blocked shots. After 31 games this season he is averaging 3 points, 2 boards and 1 block more per game than last season through the same number of games with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Spaniard was positive he could still produce the numbers he has for his career. He knew he still had the talent, but was just unsure what to expect and how he would fit in.

Gasol and teammates have become convinced that winning a championship is very realistic. The Bulls have won 12 of their last 14 games. Butler is a budding superstar beside Rose, Noah continues to be the defense in the paint and the team is now the deepest it has been in many seasons.

Gasol added that he only came to Chicago for one reason, to win championships as he felt the team had the potential needed to do so.
The Bulls are off to a good start trying to prove that.