Bulls' Gasol says facing Lakers will be 'emotional'

Having captured two championships over seven seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, it's completely understandable for Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol to have mixed feelings about facing his former team.

"Emotional, weird, hard to focus," Gasol said about playing the Lakers, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago. "But at the same time, I kind of look forward to it in a way. To see some of the people that I've been through a lot with."

In particular, Gasol is looking forward to facing longtime teammate Kobe Bryant, who is expected to play after sitting out the Lakers' last game for rest.

"He's playing really well," Gasol said of Bryant. "I think it's impressing a lot of people about what he's able to do at this point in his career. And all his accomplishments and milestones that he's achieving are incredible. It must be hard for him to lose most of the games, but they have a pretty new team with a lot of new faces and a new coach, a lot to adjust to."

Gasol appears rejuvenated in Chicago this season, averaging 18 points and 11.4 rebounds for the 19-9 Bulls.