March 25--Two weeks ago, Pau Gasol expressed what it meant to set a career high for double-doubles, a league-leading total now at 47 and counting.
But nobody could have predicted another career high in Gasol's 14th NBA season. With 5-for-5 3-point shooting over his last six games, Gasol is now 12-for-22 from beyond the arc this season. The .525 percentage far surpasses his previous best (with at least 10 attempts) of .286, and he already has made four more than his former career high.
"I work on it," Gasol said. "With my (Spanish) national team, I always shoot more 3s, especially when I play with Marc (Gasol). I like to mix it up. I've always been a versatile player.
"For the most part of my NBA career, I've been in the post. So I didn't shoot too many 3s because that's not what my team needed me to do. But in our offense, there are certain plays where I'm in those corners. And I'm shooting it effectively so far."
Bombs away: Jimmy Butler took 20 shots and got to the line 10 times in his first game back from an 11-game absence because of a left elbow injury.
"You have to shoot the rust out. That's what Pau told me to do," Butler said. "I definitely got them up. I'm rusty, just have to get back in a rhythm. I was just playing. I forgot all about (the elbow) completely."
Layups: Nikola Mirotic, who is making a late push for Rookie of the Year consideration, is averaging a league-best 9.5 points in the fourth quarter since March 1. LeBron James is next at 8.5. ... The Bulls flew to Toronto for a film session and individual workouts. Most teams use more walkthroughs and film sessions at this point of the season and the Bulls, who also had Sunday off, have practiced just twice in March. But with two days off between the Raptors and Knicks games, a scrimmage opportunity is there if Derrick Rose is cleared for contact. Friday will mark four weeks since his arthroscopic right knee surgery.
