Martin’s Moment: Unfathomable Career-Highs From Pau Gasol And Mo Williams
Last week’s moment was a high stakes three-team trade featuring some popular names. This week’s moment, or maybe it’s a co-moment, goes to Pau Gasol and Mo Williams, who both performed completely unpredictable and unfathomable acts by scoring their career-highs this week.
Pau Gasol, the skilled, polished, 14-year veteran Spaniard who ditched the Lakers to join the Bulls this past summer, had the best game of his career last Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks: 48 POINTS AND 16 REBOUNDS in a 95-87 Bulls victory. That’s Pau Gasol. Not Shaquille O’Neal. Not Wilt Chamberlain. Gasol. Pau. Granted, this did happen at the end of last week, but after Williams had his big night the two have to go hand-in-hand.
The offensive abilities of Pau made the move to Chicago so imperative. For a Bulls team that has been offensively challenged in recent years, even with Derrick Rose healthy, what Gasol brings to the table in post scoring, shooting, and passing as a 7-footer would undoubtedly be invaluable to Chicago. Needless to say, Gasol put the entire repertoire on display against Milwaukee. He scored just shy of 50 points using his typical scoring regimen – post ups for quick hooks, open set shots on kick-outs, facing up and making a quick move, etc.
Gasol had 20 points and 6 rebounds in the first quarter. He established himself early and found a rhythm that carried him to a career-best game.
“I was able to get a good base; that’s always a good sign for me,” said Gasol. “When I get a good base in the post and I finish my shot and I’m able to finish the first couple of shots, when the jumper was falling, you know you’re on. It was a good overall night.”
Watch Pau Gasol’s full 48-point, 16-rebound game
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And then, with no justifiable reason whatsoever, Mo Williams decided to join the career-high party, setting the Minnesota Timberwolves’ single game record of 52 POINTS along with 7 assists against the Pacers on Tuesday night.
This is the same Mo Williams with a career average of under 14 points per game. Williams had scored over 40 points twice in his career, both happened during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his career-best game he shot 19-for-33 from the field and 6-for-11 from three.
Williams gave himself an early green light and was simply ultra aggressive with getting his shot off. He found an early rhythm and needless to say, stuck to it. He hit pull up shots in transition, shots coming off the ball screen, floaters, a bank shot, and 18 points from behind the three-point line.
Watch Mo Williams’ full 52-point game
There’s a chance that this week’s moment(s) won’t ever happen to these two players again, making it particularly special. What’s awesome about these career-highs from this week is the awareness. The majority of these NBA players were “the man” or the go-to guy at some point in their careers. Thus, most of them have had some experience being a top scorer, making it more possible than we might think for guys like Pau Gasol and Mo Williams to have games like they did this past week.
Enjoy great moments in the NBA? Share your thoughts on mine and your own favorites with me throughout each week!
