Chicago Bulls vs. Orlando Magic: Three Takeaways
By Jake Barajas
Taj Gibson
During training camp, the only starting position that was up for grabs was the power forward spot. With the lack of shooting the Bulls have in the front court, it was widely assumed that Nikola Mirotic was all but formally named the starting power forward.
As preseason went on, Mirotic struggled and Taj Gibson did Taj Gibson things. His effort earned him the starting job and he hasn’t looked back.
The veteran has continued his stellar play against the Magic. Gibson went 7-of-13 from the field, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. That was good enough for Taj Gibson’s fourth double-double of the season. Of course, Gibson was also solid on the defensive end tonight and he was a big part of the Bulls leaky defense getting on track midway through the first quarter.
It’s obvious that inserting Taj Gibson has worked better than anyone could have imagined. He has helped put the spacing issues to rest for now with the value he adds in other areas on the court. Gibson has been as reliable as any player on the Bulls roster this season, and he is an integral part of why this team has gotten off to the start they have.