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Pau Gasol: 5 ways he will help the Chicago Bulls

By Carlos Nazario

Jul 18, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau (left) with newly signed center Pau Gasol during a press conference at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau (left) with newly signed center Pau Gasol during a press conference at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

Gasol can play some defense, too. 

Coach Thibodeau really loves defense. I mean, really, REALLY loves defense. He gets upset when players in an All Star game don’t play defense. He demands his players play at least adequate defense. He is the only coach that got Nate Robinson to play defense on a regular basis.

Gasol can make Thibodeau happy. He can play and succeed in the team defense scheme that is demanded. He averages 9.6 rebounds per game and 1.6 blocks per game in his career.

Gasol’s defensive rebound percentage (estimate of the percentage of available defensive rebounds a player gets while on the floor) was 25.9 percent last season (and a career average of 20.5 percent). By comparison, Noah’s defensive rebound percentage last season was 24.5 percent, and he has a career average of 22.9 percent. That is a lot of defensive rebounds coming just from two players, and that’s not including Taj Gibson.

Thibodeau’s defensive scheme is predicated on protecting the middle of the floor, where most of the points are scored. The Bulls force teams to take tougher shots than normal. Playing against this defense is very difficult. Teams going up against the Bulls are usually frustrated because they end up missing a lot of shots.

Having Gasol on the floor with Noah, those missed shots will get to one of their hands, and a lot of outlet passes will occur, giving the Bulls a lot of easier shots. As I said, easier shots lead to a higher field goal percentage which leads to more points, something the Bulls desperately need. Gasol’s defense will help the Bulls’ offense score those points.

Gasol’s signing may be one of the best free agent signings when it’s all said and done. He is on a quest for another title, and with the Bulls he just may get it.

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