Chicago Bulls big man Pau Gasol has helped the team get off to a quick start, going 4-1 in their first five games. The Spaniard was the key free agent signing the team made over the summer to help solidify an already solid frontcourt with Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. Gasol had a busy summer. He signed with the Bulls after leaving behind Kobe Bryant in LA, and was also a member of Spain’s National Team that played in the FIBA
The NBA season is only 10 days old, but there’s been a lot to take in and observe. The “Big Three” in Cleveland have a big three losses against one just one narrow win. The Sacramento Kings didn’t get the memo about returning to the lottery. The Los Angeles Lakers are finding out that winless and glamorous usually are mutually exclusive. The New York Knicks look like a different team from game to game. Here are five things I’ve learned so far
Jimmy Butler returned on Saturday after missing two weeks with a sprained left thumb. A bit of a surprise return at that, which was just what the Bulls needed after Derrick Rose was out after spraining his ankle in the second quarter of their Friday tilt against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Taj Gibson also missed the game with a sprained ankle suffered in the same game, leaving the Bulls a bit thin. Nearly every starter notched more than 30 minutes. Jimmy Butler,
NEW YORK – After mixed results while playing for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup this summer (he had one good game, and it was Coach K, not Coach Thibs, who inspired him), Derrick Rose returned to the NBA hardwood for the first time in a regular season game since Nov. 22, 2013. “I think USA Basketball did a great job of making sure that my nerves weren’t too high,” Rose said. “I wasn’t too antsy when I was out
Pau Gasol has everything the Chicago Bulls were missing in the past. Clearly Chicago needs a healthy Derrick Rose to compete for a championship, but Gasol looked every bit of the team’s missing part in Wednesday night’s 104-80 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Gasol scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 29 minutes in the win and added a lot to the team that they lacked last year, according to Bulls players and head coach Tom Thibodeau. “He’s
In my latest SheridanHoops previews for the upcoming season I have the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks as playoff teams. What about the rest of the league? Can Kobe Bryant carry the Lakers to the playoffs with Steve Nash now out for the season? Is this the year the Chicago Bulls fulfill their potential and reach the NBA Finals? Are the Cleveland Cavaliers the title favorites with LeBron James and Kevin Love joining forces with Kyrie Irving? With that in mind, I joined FOX
There has been plenty of concern since the summer on whether Derrick Rose would be able to regain half the form that made him the MVP of the league a few seasons ago. The point guard was selected to play for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup, but was noticeably ineffective despite playing against mostly inferior competition. After his breakout performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, the concerns are beginning to subside. Despite losing 107-98, Rose looked dominant on the
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard finally has his real life NBA2K moment. In 2K, the moment when you know your MyPlayer character has arrived (aside from that time that you single-handedly equaled your opponent’s scoring output) is definitely when you get your first signature shoe. Entering his third season in the NBA, the 2013 Rookie of the Year is finally set to debut his first signature shoe with Adidas. He took to social media to share the news with a