ANIMATED: Pau Gasol Decides To Be Aggressive, Positive Results Yielded

Pau Gasol was criticized heavily last year for his play in the Los Angeles Lakers' four-game loss in the 2011 NBA Playoffs to the Dallas Mavericks. The issue then was a lack of aggressiveness and poor defense on Dirk Nowitzki. Gasol isn't playing against Nowitzki in the 2011-12 season opener against the Chicago Bulls, but he has been aggressive, most notably on this dunk on the baseline.

Gasol has 12 points thus far in the game on 10 shot attempts, and he's doing exactly what the Lakers need him to do. On this play, he spun baseline to elude Joakim Noah and finished strong instead of tossing up a weaker shot.

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