HEADY STUFF
McDERMOTT RETURNS AS BULLS HAND SPURS 1ST ROAD LOSS
It was business first for Pau Gasol.
A Renaissance man, Gasol wouldn’t have walked away from frequent visits to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for the rodeo if it wasn’t.
The decision to opt out of his last year with the Bulls and sign a twoyear, $ 31.6 million contract with the Spurs in the offseason was about money and another ring chase at 36.
That chase hit a pothole Thursday. The Bulls welcomed Gasol back to the United Center, then handed him a 95- 91 loss.
Gasol had 13 points and 10 rebounds, but San Antonio’s stumble was the first road loss for the Spurs ( 18- 5) and a much- needed boost for a 12- 10 Bulls team that had lost three in a row.
The Bulls, however, didn’t make it easy on themselves.
They held the Spurs to a seasonlow 32 points in the first half and built an 18- point lead, then had to hold on at the end.
Patty Mills missed a three- pointer with just over 20 seconds left that would have cut the Spurs’ deficit to three. Dwyane Wade made two free throws with 10.8 seconds left to seal the victory.
“The big thing was, right out of the gate we had a focus to us,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said. “We didn’t make any mistakes.’’
And there were no hurt feelings between Gasol and the Bulls.
“I had an incredible time and experience living in Chicago,” Gasol said before the game. “Such a beau- tiful, rich city. Basketball- wise, we underperformed.
“I wasn’t there as long as I was in Memphis or L. A. I was emotionally committed to the team, trying to make it work. Things didn’t quite work out the way I expected them to or the way the franchise expected them to.’’
Then Gasol added, “There was a lot going on.’’
That was quite an understatement for Gasol, who, like Jimmy Butler, saw a front office all but sabotage Tom Thibodeau’s last season as well as coddle Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.
“It’s how you feel and what you feel and how you see things,’’ Gasol said. “It was time for a new chapter.’’ And a richer one with less drama. The last year of Gasol’s deal would’ve paid him $ 7.8 million. He doubled that in going to a team that also has a much better chance for a deep playoff run.
“I enjoyed coaching Pau,’’ Hoiberg said. “I really did. He’s extremely intelligent. He’s as smart a guy as I’ve been around. We ran a lot of offense through Pau, getting him the ball at the elbows or high post. He and Jimmy had a good chemistry on lobs. Heck of a player. Fun to coach him.
“To go out as an unrestricted free agent and see what you can attract on the open market, he obviously got a great contract on a great team with a chance to win a championship. I’m happy for Pau and always wish him nothing but the best.’’
After the game, Gasol said it was a strange night. He accidentally headed to the Bulls’ locker room upon his arrival.
“Last year was difficult,’’ Gasol said. “We had a coaching change, and that’s never an easy transition. But I did enjoy my time here.’’