Bulls' Pau Gasol On Game 6 Status: 'I'll Be Out There, I Think'
(CBS) Bulls big man Pau Gasol is a gametime decision for Game 6 against the Cavaliers on Thursday at the United Center as he continues to deal with a strained left hamstring, but he believes he'll take the court.
Gasol has missed the past two games with the injury, and Chicago has felt his absence, dropping two in a row to trail the series 3-2 now. Before Game 5 on Tuesday, Gasol told reporters he was running at about 40 percent speed and that he would try to give it a go when he was better than 50 percent.
He again got some running in Wednesday and expressed more optimism than before about playing in Game 6, but he cautioned he hasn't jumped yet.
"I was able to do some good running," Gasol said. "I was able to do some shooting for the first time and move OK. Made some good progress today, no residual pain from yesterday.
"I'll be out there, I think. Whichever way I can be, I will be."
Gasol suffered the injury in Game 3 last Friday. Gasol added he may play reduced minutes in the first and third quarters, when he usually plays the full 12 minutes.
"It's win or go home," Gasol said. "There's nothing left besides tomorrow's game. At what percentage I'll be able to play, I don't know. Whatever percentage I'll be at, that's what I'll give."
Gasol's averaging 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in the series. He led the NBA with 54 double-doubles in the regular season and started 78 of 82 games, averaging 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds.
The Bulls could use his offense after scoring just 84 points in Game 4 and having a late rally come up short in Game 5.
"Offensively, I think I bring things to the table that make things a little easier for myself and the rest of the guys," Gasol said. "Just try to make just good decisions out there and help the team win."
If the Bulls do force a Game 7, it will be played at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. CT on Sunday, the NBA announced.
