Gasol probable for Game 6 but says he'll play, Rose feeling fine

Pau Gasol did everything and nothing all at once on Wednesday.

The injured Chicago Bulls power forward participated in everything his teammates did for practice, but the lack of on-court activity in the session continues to leave his status in doubt. The team only did a film session and a walk-through, which Gasol participated in, and he's being called probable for Thursday's pivotal Game 6.

For his part, the affable Gasol is adamant he'll play, possibly with a minutes restriction, and win.

"I'll be out there," he said Wednesday, noting he is feeling no residual pain. "I like our chances."

Gasol has missed each of the last two games due to a strained left hamstring, sitting on the sidelines as his Bulls saw a 2-1 series lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers turn into a 3-2 deficit. He suffered the injury late in Game 3, with the Bulls closing things out in his stead and leaving room for optimism that the series - a poor matchup for Gasol's individual talents - was winnable without him.

There's still a case to be made that Chicago can survive without the high-scoring Spaniard, but it's better to have all hands on deck than not. The Bulls have been outscored by five points in Gasol's 85 minutes, and outscored by seven points in the 155 minutes he's sat.

His primary impact has been felt close to the basket, with the Bulls shooting better closer to the Cavs' hoop on average with Gasol on the floor, but the team's rebounding rate dropping from 52 percent to 48 percent with the 7-footer in the game.

Nikola Mirotic has been the primary recipient of Gasol's minutes, with Taj Gibson also seeing an uptick when not ejected. Mirotic has averaged 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds over the last three games after playing sparingly earlier in the playoffs, but he's shot 25 percent from the floor in those games, and was a major negative in Game 5. Gibson is a steadier defensive presence and has shot 51.5 percent in the series, averaging 8.8 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Rose feeling fine

Also of note from Bulls' practice was that Derrick Rose is said to be feeling fine. Rose suffered a shoulder stinger in Game 1 and has favored it multiple times after contact or falls in the series, leading him to shake his hand and receive attention from trainers on the sideline.

His performance has suffered little, with Rose averaging 23.2 points, six rebounds and 6.6 assists in the series, though he's struggled shooting inside the arc and failed to get to the line in Games 1 and 2, an anomaly that has since corrected.