Chicago Bulls Following Taj Gibson’s Lead Down the Stretch

Taj Gibson has been making the case that he is the heart and the soul of the Chicago Bulls all year.

Even when faced with adversity and a number of injuries, the Chicago Bulls’ season is proving to be all but finished. Leading the Bulls to a beautifully orchestrated 92-85 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night was none other than Taj Gibson.

You read that right.

Many will say if not for Pau Gasol and what he brings to table night in and night out, the Bulls’ path to the postseason could be singing to a different tune. The team appears to be turning a corner in the final stretch of this season saying enough is enough. With all that jazz about the Bulls not having toughness and Gasol being sidelined, the team is proving they have staying power to compete.

Gibson’s play both on and off the court this year has been far from a disappointment. Entering his sixth season after recovering from offseason ankle surgery has shown Bulls fans everywhere how valuable it is having the veteran forward on the squad.

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Having played in all but one game this year, Gibson has shown the most consistency among his teammates in the Hoiberg era, playing night in and night out with one goal in mind: lead with a team-first attitude. Gibson, though initially soft-spoken when he entered the league, has become the leader the shorthanded Bulls need.

How did Gibson become the Chicago Bulls’ emotional leader?

It all started when the Bulls lost Joakim Noah to season-ending shoulder injury. The squad had been experimenting with different starting lineup combinations, mixing and matching the roster to fit needs of first-year coach Fred Hoiberg. When called upon to fill in at power forward alongside Gasol, Gibson answered and the rest was history.

Through 49 games at the starting power forward role, Gibson is averaging 9.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest. These statistics, though not his career-best, don’t speak to his strength all that much about what he brings to the tables in intangible ways. Oftentimes, Gibson does all the dirty work that’s not seen in the highlight reels. He’s rallying the teams’ effort at the defensive end, setting picks at the top of the key for his teammates and most notably, using his voice to revive the Bulls.

Much like the Bulls silenced their opponents on Saturday night, it’s time to say, enough is enough. Enough with all that Jazz about Derrick Rose not being tough enough, Jimmy Butler being all about his statistics and Gasol not fitting into Hoiberg’s system. In the final stretch of the season, the hope is the Bulls can continue to rally behind leaders like Gibson as they work together in an effort to clinch a slot in the playoffs.