Why Pau Gasol Perfectly Complements Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah
Pau Gasol wasn't the biggest name during this summer's free-agency period, but he was the perfect fit for the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls' offense has been quite anemic over the last two seasons, ranking 29th and 30th, respectively. Granted, it has been mostly due to Derrick Rose's absence, but even during his last two healthy campaigns, Chicago's points per game placed no higher than 18th in the league.
Gasol is definitely a remedy for that.
His reputation as one of the league's smartest players is nothing to take for granted, especially since he's coming into a team with championship aspirations. "Certain guys take a little longer. Certain guys take a little shorter. I think I'm one of the guys that absorbs [new schemes] pretty quickly," said Gasol in an interview with BullsTV.
Gasol brings one of the most versatile offensive games along with his high IQ. He's capable of scoring in a variety of ways, from pick-and-roll to mid-range jump shots to a deadly post-up game that very few can defend.
Rose has never had someone in the frontcourt with this skill set, and Joakim Noah, an avid passer, may have the perfect partner for some high-low action.
Let's take a closer look at some of Gasol's strengths and how they fit with Chicago's All-Stars.
Low-Post Presence
Adding a low-post player of Gasol’s caliber was necessary, as Rose told reporters:
"Pau is another dimension to our team that we didn't have and I think I never had since I've been in the NBA. ... With [Gasol] being seven feet and you got Joakim with Taj [Gibson] on the other side cleaning up everything else, I think that we just need shooting and just one other playmaker. But I think we have that.
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Thibodeau gave his take to the media on what Gasol adds to the offense:
"When you look at different ways to break down a defense, Derrick gives you off the dribble and Pau gives you the low post, so it's a critical part of the offense. If you hit [Gasol] and cut and you're open, he's going to the hit you every time. ... He's a very good decision-maker.
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That passing ability is what can really make this offense so dangerous. "We can play through Pau in the post, so I don't have to worry about starting off games the way I used to in the past," Rose continued.
With Noah on the opposite block and Rose and Company on the outside, Gasol will have plenty of options from the post. He's a great scorer but can also find the open man, be it a cutting Rose, Noah on the opposite side if the defense sends a double-team or a shooter coming off the screen.
As far as scoring from the post is concerned, Gasol may not be as quick or fluid as Carlos Boozer was, but his height and point of release make him nearly impossible to defend. He's stronger than he looks and has a solid array of moves that make him even harder to contain.
This new post presence also gives the Bulls a chance to dictate pace, especially during the postseason. "Regular season, we can push it," Rose told reporters. "Playoff basketball, we can walk it up, run the set and execute."
Chicago hasn't had two 20-point scorers on the same team since the 1996-97 season, but this year could break that drought.
Mike D'Antoni's uptempo style didn't exactly fit Gasol well, and the Lakers shied away from posting him up, which is his bread and butter. His mid-range shots made up approximately 40 percent of his attempts over the last three years, up from about 20 or 30 percent during his three-year streak as an All-Star.
Gasol doesn't just score, though; he can also create for others if the offense calls for it.
High-Low Action
One of the major benefits of having a player like Gasol is his ability to pass the ball. Similarly to how Chicago used Noah last year, the Bulls can run the offense through Gasol, and Rose seems excited about the idea, per Bulls.com writer Sam Smith: "When you have somebody like Pau, you can just let him start off the offense right away from the beginning of games and dictate how the game is going to go and how they're going to play him. It kind of lets everybody get easy shots."
This is huge for an offense that has relied heavily on Rose to not only start the offense but constantly finish possessions as well. The Bulls utilize a ton of off-ball movement, primarily with backcourt players cutting to the basket. Like Thibodeau said, Gasol is going to hit you every time.
The Spaniard was one of seven center/forwards with at least 200 assists in 2013-14 and can operate just like Noah, working from the top of the key to set up the offense. What works even better this time around is the high-low action between the two bigs.
Boozer was more of a mid-range player, usually working in the post only when he was isolated. And when he was used at the top of the key, the possession often ended with a couple of jab steps and a fadeaway he took three seconds too late. This left Noah alone on the inside at times, working with just players cutting toward the rim.
Gasol, on the other hand, has been a better mid-range shooter over the last two seasons, shooting over 40 percent between 10 and 16 feet from the rim. Boozer was under 40 percent in those same campaigns.
Noah and Gasol can also work both inside and outside. Noah is great at finishing with his left hand, so the Bulls can draw up plays where Noah cuts from the right side of the court. Even if he doesn't get open, Gasol can always attack the paint, hand off to a curling shooter or find a cutting player.
They can also work coming off screens. Defenses often converge when the pick-setter slips the screen; this gives either Noah or Gasol a small window to hit the other big with a bounce pass. Both players are solid finishers around the rim and can get to the line and knock down free throws.
Off-ball movement will be crucial, perhaps more than ever, which could make for some interesting sets with both bigs as the primary ball-handlers and options.
Pick-and-Roll
This might be the biggest help to Rose, and really, the team as a whole.
Gasol is a great scorer in the pick-and-roll because he can score in so many ways. He can attack the rim or quickly get his back to the basket to fake the defender and turn back around with a hook shot. The fact that he can put the ball on the floor just makes him that much better.
He's also a viable option as a shooter. Defenders can't double Rose since Gasol could make them pay with his shot. If they converge on Gasol after he receives the ball, he's a very willing passer with incredible court vision who makes fast decisions.
Working off Rose's penetration will give Gasol a lot of looks both inside and outside. Rose can either dump off to Gasol in the paint or drop it off if Gasol fades after the screen.
And, hey, maybe the Bulls can try something like this at some point in the season:
Gasol is going to facilitate things for Rose since he can function as more than just a scorer, unlike Boozer. His passing is going to be a big key to the Bulls' success, as is his ability to score down low. Like Rose said, he's never played with anyone like him, and as the season goes and they learn each other's tendencies, their performances on the court will reflect it.
"We can develop a special bond. I look forward to him dominating the way he used to," Gasol told reporters.
The same can be said about Noah, not just offensively but defensively as well. Gasol adds length in the frontcourt and can protect the rim much better than Boozer just by virtue of being taller.
It could take some time for Rose, Noah and Gasol to get acclimated with one another, but the potential for something spectacular is there. Just don't talk to Noah about it. "Potentially, definitely (this is my best Bulls team). But we all know potential doesn't mean anything," he told the media.
They'll have to put it all together throughout the course of the season, and with a team full of veterans and Thibodeau as head coach, there's no doubt the "sky is the limit."
Note: All stats gathered from Basketball-Reference.com.
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