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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Pau Gasol's Domination in FIBA World Cup Could Be Springboard To MVP Season

All summer long, the hype was about Carmelo Anthony plugging into the Chicago Bulls starting line-up to form the most formidable starting five in the East, if not the entire NBA.

And while all the buzz around the Chicago Bulls' NBA Championship aspirations have gone away with Carmelo deciding to return to the New York Knicks and Lebron's choice to return to the Central Division and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Pau Gasol, with his performance so far in the FIBA World Cup, is proving that the Chicago Bulls "Plan B" stood for "Best".

All summer long, the hype was about Carmelo Anthony plugging into the Chicago Bulls starting line-up to form the most formidable starting five in the East, if not the entire NBA. And while all the buzz around the Chicago Bulls' NBA Championship aspirations have gone away with Carmelo deciding to return to the New York Knicks and Lebron's choice to return to the Central Division and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Pau Gasol, with his performance so far in the FIBA World Cup, is proving that the Chicago Bulls "Plan B" stood for "Best". So far in the FIBA World Cup, Gasol has been dominating and showing off the all around game that the Chicago Bulls coveted when they were trying to acquired him going back to his Memphis Grizzlies days. And at a fraction of the cost of Melo, the Chicago Bulls were able to sign Nikola Mirotic, another former Spanish League MVP, and still be able to add roster depth in pursuit of the NBA Championship. Pau opened FIBA World Cup play with 33 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 3 blk vs Iran, but it was Monday's amazing performance of 26 pts, 9 reb, 2 ast, 3 blk vs Brazil (against the three-headed NBA center Nene, Tiago Splitter, and the Cleveland Cavalier's Anderson Varejao) that was truly impressive. The entire Chicago Bulls organization, along with many past teammates, including Kobe Bryant, have noted Pau's intelligence as a player and as a person. However, it was his high basketball-IQ that was on display against Brazil, as he dissected the defense with surgical precision on his way to his 26 points on 11-15 shooting, including 8 of 10 inside and 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the 3 NBA players on Brazil's frontline were held to 9 of 22 ( %) shooting and 23 points COMBINED. Spain's 82-63 victory over Brazil was a thing of beauty. Watch these highlights of Pau Gasol's performance: Much has been made of Derrick Rose's last appearance for Team USA (in 2010), and how it fueled his play, earning him the NBA MVP that season. Pau Gasol seems completely rejuvenated after spending a difficult season with a struggling and rebuilding Lakers squad. With the high hopes and new opportunity in cosmopolitan Chicago, Pau's play in FIBA could prove to be his springboard to earning his first NBA MVP, and the Chicago Bulls their first NBA Championship in 17 years. All of BullsNation can't wait for the NBA season to begin in order to see how far Pau Gasol and the rest of the Chicago Bulls can go this season and this coming post-season. Have you been watching the FIBA World Cup? What are your thoughts on the play of new Chicago Bull Pau Gasol and how it will translate to the coming NBA season? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

So far in the FIBA World Cup, Gasol has been dominating and showing off the all around game that the Chicago Bulls coveted when they were trying to acquired him going back to his Memphis Grizzlies days. And at a fraction of the cost of Melo, the Chicago Bulls were able to sign Nikola Mirotic, another former Spanish League MVP, and still be able to add roster depth in pursuit of the NBA Championship.

Pau opened FIBA World Cup play with 33 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 3 blk vs Iran, but it was Monday's amazing performance of 26 pts, 9 reb, 2 ast, 3 blk vs Brazil (against the three-headed NBA center Nene, Tiago Splitter, and the Cleveland Cavalier's Anderson Varejao) that was truly impressive.

All summer long, the hype was about Carmelo Anthony plugging into the Chicago Bulls starting line-up to form the most formidable starting five in the East, if not the entire NBA. And while all the buzz around the Chicago Bulls' NBA Championship aspirations have gone away with Carmelo deciding to return to the New York Knicks and Lebron's choice to return to the Central Division and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Pau Gasol, with his performance so far in the FIBA World Cup, is proving that the Chicago Bulls "Plan B" stood for "Best". All summer long, the hype was about Carmelo Anthony plugging into the Chicago Bulls starting line-up to form the most formidable starting five in the East, if not the entire NBA. And while all the buzz around the Chicago Bulls' NBA Championship aspirations have gone away with Carmelo deciding to return to the New York Knicks and Lebron's choice to return to the Central Division and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Pau Gasol, with his performance so far in the FIBA World Cup, is proving that the Chicago Bulls "Plan B" stood for "Best". So far in the FIBA World Cup, Gasol has been dominating and showing off the all around game that the Chicago Bulls coveted when they were trying to acquired him going back to his Memphis Grizzlies days. And at a fraction of the cost of Melo, the Chicago Bulls were able to sign Nikola Mirotic, another former Spanish League MVP, and still be able to add roster depth in pursuit of the NBA Championship. Pau opened FIBA World Cup play with 33 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 3 blk vs Iran, but it was Monday's amazing performance of 26 pts, 9 reb, 2 ast, 3 blk vs Brazil (against the three-headed NBA center Nene, Tiago Splitter, and the Cleveland Cavalier's Anderson Varejao) that was truly impressive. The entire Chicago Bulls organization, along with many past teammates, including Kobe Bryant, have noted Pau's intelligence as a player and as a person. However, it was his high basketball-IQ that was on display against Brazil, as he dissected the defense with surgical precision on his way to his 26 points on 11-15 shooting, including 8 of 10 inside and 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the 3 NBA players on Brazil's frontline were held to 9 of 22 ( %) shooting and 23 points COMBINED. Spain's 82-63 victory over Brazil was a thing of beauty. Watch these highlights of Pau Gasol's performance: Much has been made of Derrick Rose's last appearance for Team USA (in 2010), and how it fueled his play, earning him the NBA MVP that season. Pau Gasol seems completely rejuvenated after spending a difficult season with a struggling and rebuilding Lakers squad. With the high hopes and new opportunity in cosmopolitan Chicago, Pau's play in FIBA could prove to be his springboard to earning his first NBA MVP, and the Chicago Bulls their first NBA Championship in 17 years. All of BullsNation can't wait for the NBA season to begin in order to see how far Pau Gasol and the rest of the Chicago Bulls can go this season and this coming post-season. Have you been watching the FIBA World Cup? What are your thoughts on the play of new Chicago Bull Pau Gasol and how it will translate to the coming NBA season? Tell us what you think in the comments below! So far in the FIBA World Cup, Gasol has been dominating and showing off the all around game that the Chicago Bulls coveted when they were trying to acquired him going back to his Memphis Grizzlies days. And at a fraction of the cost of Melo, the Chicago Bulls were able to sign Nikola Mirotic, another former Spanish League MVP, and still be able to add roster depth in pursuit of the NBA Championship. Pau opened FIBA World Cup play with 33 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 3 blk vs Iran, but it was Monday's amazing performance of 26 pts, 9 reb, 2 ast, 3 blk vs Brazil (against the three-headed NBA center Nene, Tiago Splitter, and the Cleveland Cavalier's Anderson Varejao) that was truly impressive. The final roster cuts have been made, reducing the squad travelling to compete in the FIBA World Cup in Spain down to 12 players. Derrick Rose, who missed one tune up game and played sparingly on Friday night, is on the final 12 man roster and figures to start at the point guard position for Team USA. Because several players, most notably, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love are not participating, and with the loss of Paul George to a horrific leg injury sustained during one of Team USA's scrimmages, Derrick Rose is thought to be one of a handful of players who will be called upon to lead Team USA. Rose has played in a FIBA World Championship before, starting at point guard for the 2010 Men's USA Basketball team that won the gold medal. Rose's play that summer transitioned him into his best season as a professional, leading the Chicago Bulls to the best record in the NBA that season, and Rose being crowned the youngest NBA MVP ever. Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls, and BullsNation hopes that DRose can duplicate those results, and possibly add an NBA Championship to the outcome this time. The 2014 Team USA 12-man roster: #12 DeMarcus Cousins 6-11 C Sacramento Kings #4 Stephen Curry 6-3 G Golden State Warriors #14 Anthony Davis 6-10 F/C New Orleans Pelicans #9 DeMar Derozan 6-7 G Toronto Raptors #15 Andre Drummond 6-10 C Detroit Pistons #18 Kenneth Faried 6-8 F Denver Nuggets #8 Rudy Gay 6-8 F Sacramento Kings #13 James Harden 6-5 G Houston Rockets #10 Kyrie Irving 6-3 G Cleveland Cavaliers #11 Mason Plumlee 6-11 F Brooklyn Nets #6 Derrick Rose 6-3 G Chicago Bulls #5 Klay Thompson 6-7 G Golden State Warriors Team USA Roster Built With An Eye On Spain With the final 12 man roster for the 2014 FIBA World Cup selected, it is clear that the initial thinking that Team USA officials would focus on playing "small ball" has changed. Team USA's biggest challenge in the World Cup will be Spain, and their experienced team featuring former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol and new Chicago Bull Pau Gasol. And with an eye to the skill and size of Spain, Team USA chose to keep all their size, including DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Faried, Mason Plumlee, and Anthony Davis, in order to match the Gasol brothers. Several players thought to be a lock, Kyle Korver and Damian Lillard in particular, were not selected. Analysts suggest that their skill set would have been most useful when Kevin Durant was to be the feature of the offense, but with Durant deciding to leave Team USA, officials felt the need to shore up their frontcourt. The decision leaves Derrick Rose and Steph Curry, two players on the 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal team, along with James Harden, as the offensive focuses in the backcourt of this incarnation of Team USA. What do you think of the players selected to the roster of Team USA? How do you think the Chicago Bulls (Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol) will do in this year's FIBA World Cup tournament? Who will win? Tell us what you think in the comments below! The entire Chicago Bulls organization, along with many past teammates, including Kobe Bryant, have noted Pau's intelligence as a player and as a person. However, it was his high basketball-IQ that was on display against Brazil, as he dissected the defense with surgical precision on his way to his 26 points on 11-15 shooting, including 8 of 10 inside and 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the 3 NBA players on Brazil's frontline were held to 9 of 22 ( %) shooting and 23 points COMBINED. Spain's 82-63 victory over Brazil was a thing of beauty. Watch these highlights of Pau Gasol's performance: Much has been made of Derrick Rose's last appearance for Team USA (in 2010), and how it fueled his play, earning him the NBA MVP that season. Pau Gasol seems completely rejuvenated after spending a difficult season with a struggling and rebuilding Lakers squad. With the high hopes and new opportunity in cosmopolitan Chicago, Pau's play in FIBA could prove to be his springboard to earning his first NBA MVP, and the Chicago Bulls their first NBA Championship in 17 years. All of BullsNation can't wait for the NBA season to begin in order to see how far Pau Gasol and the rest of the Chicago Bulls can go this season and this coming post-season. Have you been watching the FIBA World Cup? What are your thoughts on the play of new Chicago Bull Pau Gasol and how it will translate to the coming NBA season? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

The entire Chicago Bulls organization, along with many past teammates, including Kobe Bryant, have noted Pau's intelligence as a player and as a person. However, it was his high basketball-IQ that was on display against Brazil, as he dissected the defense with surgical precision on his way to his 26 points on 11-15 shooting, including 8 of 10 inside and 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

Meanwhile, the 3 NBA players on Brazil's frontline were held to 9 of 22 ( %) shooting and 23 points COMBINED.

Spain's 82-63 victory over Brazil was a thing of beauty. Watch these highlights of Pau Gasol's performance:

Much has been made of Derrick Rose's last appearance for Team USA (in 2010), and how it fueled his play, earning him the NBA MVP that season.

Pau Gasol seems completely rejuvenated after spending a difficult season with a struggling and rebuilding Lakers squad.

With the high hopes and new opportunity in cosmopolitan Chicago, Pau's play in FIBA could prove to be his springboard to earning his first NBA MVP, and the Chicago Bulls their first NBA Championship in 17 years.

All of BullsNation can't wait for the NBA season to begin in order to see how far Pau Gasol and the rest of the Chicago Bulls can go this season and this coming post-season.

Have you been watching the FIBA World Cup? What are your thoughts on the play of new Chicago Bull Pau Gasol and how it will translate to the coming NBA season? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

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