Gasol: 'Every Game Can Be A Statement'
By Cody Westerlund-
CHICAGO (CBS) -- As Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau stonewalled question after question that tonight's matchup with the Cavaliers had any extra meaning, repeating that "it's the next one," Chicago big man Pau Gasol shared a different view.
"It's always good to measure up against the top teams in the league and see where you're at, see where they're at," Gasol said. "It's not always too meaningful, but against the ... top teams, the favored teams, you want to measure up against them. Every game can be a statement."
Chicago is 1-0 after a season-opening win at New York on Wednesday. The Cavaliers lost to the same Knicks club last night, and the Bulls expect them to be motivated.
"I'm sure it will be a fun one, everybody will be into it," Gasol said. "We just have to keep our focus, stay concentrated, don't get out of our plan, don't get too excited, don't get too up or too down. Then just try to win the ballgame at the end.
"Every game against them is going (to have) high expectations and an opportunity for both teams to make a statement and gain ground."
The Bulls and the Cavaliers are considered the two favorites in the Eastern Conference, not that Thibodeau would ever acknowledge that.
"You can't get caught up in the hoopla," Thibodeau said.
"They have a lot of new faces, we have a lot of new faces. But in this league, it's easy to say, 'Well, it's the Cavs, you should be excited. It's opening night' ... In this league, everyone can beat you.
"You have to understand, the emotion of the building is not going to win the game. Playing well is what's going to win the game.
"I don't think you should change, ever. Get yourself ready, know your opponent well ... Make sure you don't get distracted."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.