Grading the Bulls: Taj Gibson

" If there was a player besides Derrick Rose who could be seen as the most valuable member of the Chicago Bulls, Taj Gibson would be that guy. The best player on the famed “Bench Mob,” Gibson was one of the key reasons for Chicago's success this past season.

Statistically, Gibson didn't improve much during the lockout season as opposed to last season, and with the exception of his field goal shooting percentage and his scoring average, Taj's numbers were slightly down across the board during the 66-game campaign.

His best offensive outing came against the Atlanta Hawks in a Chicago road win where he tallied 19 points. His best all-around performance was his 15-point, 13-rebound night in a victory over the New York Knicks at home.

But his value to this team won't be found in numbers. His value can be found in the way he played hard off the bench on both ends of the floor, especially in the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers. If Joakim Noah is the emotional leader of the starters, then Taj Gibson was definitely the emotional leader of the Bench Mob.

When Derrick Rose tore his ACL in Game 1 of the Sixers series, Gibson was one of the guys on the roster who visibly stepped up his game and tried to pick up the slack left by Rose's departure. His best game in the postseason came in a loss on the road in Game 4. Gibson scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. "

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