Taj Gibson Edges Closer to Return

With their recent rebounding issues, the Bulls front line could sure do with some reinforcement. Well Bulls fans should fear no more, barring any setbacks it seems the return of the team’s ‘Secretary of Defense’ Taj Gibson, should be just around the corner.

The Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson tweeted yesterday that Coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed that Gibson has returned to practice and that both he and his fellow casualty of war, Jimmy Butler, are both making strides in their return to the court.

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Gibson has already missed ten games prior this season due to ankle related issues and having recently missed the last nine due to the ankle injury he sustained at the tail end of last month, the 6-9 power forward’s return would be well welcomed, his addition surely providing a lift to the Bulls depleted roster and declining spirits. In Gibson’s absence, Tom Thibodeau has of course had the services of Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic at the four spot to do majority of the heavy lifting on the offensive front, but it’s on the defensive end where the problems have come.

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The Bulls are 4-6 in their last ten outings, and in their two previous games they have been horribly out rebounded (55 – 36 vs. CHA & 52 – 33 vs. OKC), both were notches in the loss column. Former Defensive Player of the Year award recipient Joakim Noah has had a combined total of 9 rebounds over that two game span and Pau Gasol uncharacteristically failed to register a double double in either game. At this point in the season and with Thibodeau employing a nine to ten man rotation of late (sorry Private Bairstow, no soup for you) the players are obviously suffering from fatigue, but so is everyone else as taskmaster Thibs likes to remind us. With the added tension that has been building (See: ‘Minutes Limit Gate‘) and the losses piling up, this is a dangerous time for the Bulls. The Playoffs are only 14 games away and the Eastern Conference teams the Bulls call foes are continuing to jockey for position with each day that passes.

Gibson who is averaging 10.6 PPG and 6.6 RPG on the season, can’t be expected to solve all of the Bulls issues, but his return will definitely help alleviate some of the pressure the team has faced of late and he can no doubt help hold the fort down until Butler and (hopefully) Rose make their way back to the trenches.

The Bulls are battling. Don’t forget your hard hat Taj, you’re going to need it.

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