Chicago Bulls’ big man Taj Gibson exploded in the playoffs, averaging 18.2 points per game in the Bulls’ first round loss to the Washington Wizards. Gibson expected to earn a starting job with Carlos Boozer on his way out of town but because the Bulls signed former Los Angeles Lakers’ big man Pau Gasol, that likely won’t be the case.
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John Zitzler of Basketball Insiders believes Gibon will continue to come off of the bench but should play a huge role for the Bulls next season and going forward.
"The combination of Gibson and center Joakim Noah down low are the backbone behind the Bulls’ outstanding defense.The Bulls will enter 2014-15 with one of the deepest frontcourts in the league, as the team added Pau Gasol through free agency and is bringing Nikola Mirotic over from Europe. Head coach Tom Thibodeau will have a number of different combinations he can use, allowing the Bulls to handle just about any frontcourt match up they face. Gibson will almost surely continue to come off the bench, but will remain an integral piece as the Bulls make the push toward a title."
The Bulls should once again have the deepest frontcourt in the league and if point guard Derrick Rose remains healthy, they should be the Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest competition in the Eastern Conference.
Gibson averaged 13.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 assists per game last year while shooting 47.9% from the floor and 75.1% from the free throw line. Gibson was originally drafted by the Bulls with the 26th-overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft. In his five-year NBA career, he’s put up 9.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 assists per game while shooting 56.1% from the field and 68.6% from the charity stripe.
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