The Bulls may have lost by 15 to the Lakers on Thursday, but Joakim Noah got the best of L.A.’s Pau Gasol in a battle of the two ugliest centers in the game.
Noah contributed a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Bulls, and added five defensive flops, three dives into the crowd for loose balls and an extra wispy pony tail to go along with an equally dirty five-day-old beard growth.
“I really felt like I got the best of [Gasol] with the beard,” Noah said. “I’ve been growing this thing out all week, knowing that I was gonna have to be at my ugliest tonight.”
Gasol led the Lakers with 24 points and 13 rebounds in his first game back from a hamstring injury, but his trademark greasy hair, half-beard and protruding Adam’s apple lacked that extra level of unattractiveness that he’s gained a reputation for throughout the league.
“I don’t know what happened. I haven’t showered or shaved all week,” Gasol said. “I’m just a little out of practice, but I should get uglier as I get back into game shape.”
By Matthew Wood, intrepid reporter
