Bulls’ Pau Gasol uncertain for Game 4
The Bulls lead their playoff series, but they might be without forward Pau Gasol for game 4
Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol, who injured his hamstring during his team’s Game 3 win over the Cavaliers, may or may not play in Game 4.
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Gasol strained his left hamstring during Friday’s win over Cleveland, and says he is uncertain of his Game 4 status.
“I have to do some tests (Saturday), see how bad or good it is and then proceed from there,” Gasol said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “I’m just hoping that it’s not a bad tear or anything like that. Hamstrings are tricky and dangerous. Just hoping for the best and trying to stay positive.
“Hopefully I’ll get up (Saturday) with not much soreness and I’ll go the hospital and do whatever it is I have to do to find out what I have.”
The Bulls have stormed to a 2-1 series lead over favored Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but they will need Gasol to get healthy to maintain their surprising lead.
Chicago won a 99-96 contest with Cleveland Friday night thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Derrick Rose (don’t click that link if you’re a Cleveland fan, you’ve already had enough sports-related sadness in your life).
Gasol, 34, had been relatively durable this season, playing 78 games, the first time he played more than 65 games since 2010-11.
The veteran forward/center is averaging 15.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in the postseason. For the year, Gasol averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, good for a PER of 22.7, tied for tenth-best in the NBA.
Gasol is every bit as valuable to the Bulls as Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose, especially as underdogs against Cleveland. That goes double with the way fellow big man Joakim Noah has struggled. Noah, last year’s first-team All-NBA center, is averaging just 5.2 points per game, putting more pressure on Gasol to succeed.
If Gasol does not manage to play in game four, he will be replaced by a combination of Nikola Mirotic and Taj Gibson. That’s not exactly a huge dropoff, but in a series where Chicago will need every advantage they can find, losing Gasol, even just for one game, will hurt.
The 7’0″ Gasol, a 15-year veteran, is a three-time All-NBA team member and a two-time champion who brings a veteran presence and championship pedigree to the Bulls in addition to his continued excellence.
Game 4 takes place Sunday at 3:30 EST.