Bulls Game No. 56: Saturday brought a new appreciation for Taj Gibson

By Michael Whitlow | Feb 22, 2015

107. 66. 112. 24. Final

After an abysmal second-half performance on Friday night in Detroit, the Chicago Bulls bounce back in a nice way on Saturday night back home in Chicago. One huge reason for the Bulls getting back on track is someone that some thought would be in a different uniform after the recent All-Star break.

Taj Gibson‘s role with the Bulls has come into question numerous times throughout the 2014-15 season.

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After Carlos Boozer was amnestied this past off-season, the door was swung open for Gibson to start at power forward for the Bulls heading into the current season.

Of course, Gibson’s ascension to the starting lineup was stopped by the signing of two-time NBA Champion Pau Gasol from the Los Angeles Lakers in July.

As the season began to progress, minor reports of Gibson’s frustration with limited playing time again this year — his sixth season in the NBA — and the trade rumors began again.

"“It was a lot of speculation saying that he’s frustrated,” Gibson said. “I’m not that kind of guy, man. Whatever team I’m on, whatever teammates I got, I’m not that kind of guy.”-Taj Gibson on his status with the Bulls, ESPNChicago.com"

Then, games like Saturday night happen.

Gibson played 29 minutes in the Bulls’ 112-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns, scored 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting and pulled down four rebounds. The box score doesn’t fully show how vital Gibson was to the Bulls on Saturday night. Whenever the Bulls needed a hustle play, Taj Gibson made it. He looked like the guy who finished second in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year voting last season.

When you factor in Gibson’s importance to the Bulls, it’s never about the stats.

"“I’ve never been a guy focused on shots, I’ve never been a guy focused on minutes. I’m about winning and trying to win a championship. That’s the main thing.”-Taj Gibson, ESPNChicago.com"

After Saturday’s win, Gibson broke some important news in terms of why his energy and production has taken a minor hit this season. During the post-game locker room media session, Gibson announced that he’s been playing with a “stage 2 ligament tear” in his hand that he suffered back on Jan. 19 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"“”It was severe,” Gibson said. “[The training staff] didn’t know what we could do and they put a big cast on my hand. I don’t wish that on anybody. I didn’t tell anybody until now, it’s kind of almost healed up now but like I said, [Thibs] said never give a team any excuse, never give a team any kind of uphill or trigger point on you to try and slow your game down. ”-Taj Gibson on his hand, ESPNChicago.com"

The hand issue, along with nagging ankle issues, helps bright clarity to why Gibson has seemed a little hesitant at times this season. The Bulls have been plagued by injuries in the last five seasons and this season has been no exception. Injuries happen to all 30 NBA teams and it’s something that can’t be controlled. However, you can control what injuries players try to play through.

Sure, Tom Thibodeau will rack up some blame for playing Gibson through these injuries, but ultimately, it’s up to the players deciding what pain they want to play through and the team’s training staff getting players prepped to play.

Gibson decided to play through the pain and according to his own diagnosis, “it’s almost healed up”.

You can never question the toughness of the Bulls roster with guys like Gibson and Joakim Noah, battling through nagging injuries throughout the season — nor can you longer question Taj Gibson‘s importance to the Bulls organization.

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