I have not really kept up with things since the signing of Gasol. Has there been any frustration on the part of Taj since he was told at the end of last year to prepare to be a starter?

He is a great 6th man to have coming off the bench, but it has to be frustrating to think you are getting your chance to be a starter and have that taken away.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He's been the best big man by far. Arguably their best post player.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Taj will get his time this year. I'd be shocked if Gasol plays more than 60 games.

_________________

Taj Gibson is not that good. He is effective off the bench and that is about it. He has been holding the ball too long and someone must have mentioned to him that he is somehow a go to player out of the post. He has been looking for his own shot during the preseason shooting almost every time he touches it. I hope that it does not carry over into the regular season. There is no way he is a better player than Pau Gasol. Its interesting the level of revisionism that some people have with respect to Pau Gasol. He is not washed up and he was truly a great player in this league. People keep talking about how he played with the Lakers. Do people forget what the Lakers were before he got there. They don't win without him. Not only that he completely outplayed Kevin Garnett during the series against Boston. He should have won MVP and for all the talk about soft he saved Kobe Bryant's gunning ass during game 7 of that series. He also took Memphis to the playoffs two yrs in the row. They were a franchise that had never been to the playoffs. They won 50 games back to back yrs in a tough conf. The guy is a hall of famer. not a career bench guy. This is another example of confusing activity with accomplishment. Taj is a hard working guy that has maximized his abilities. He should not be a starter over Pau Gasol. If he had any real value Minnesota would have bit when he was offered for Kevin Love. They didnt which tells you where his real value lie.

_________________

The Wolves are rebuilding. Why would they take back a player that's older than Love? Gasol was a great player but NOW he probably isn't better than Taj. Kobe had an off shooting night in Game 7 so he went out and grabbed 18 rebounds and got to the foul line. Ron Artest's scoring saved that game. Taj is a better defender and so far this preseason he looked like the better post player. I do agree it was like a black hole whenever they threw the ball to him in the post.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Check the stats and also check the series overall Kobe Bryant was Outplayed by Paul Pierce. Gasol should have been the MVP. If the Bulls were sold on Taj Gasol would not be on the team. Gibson is an energy guy and when energy guys are stretched out for extended minutes they tend to have less energy. Taj has been overrated by Bulls fans but the league isn't buying it.

_________________

And I'm also going to keep an eye on the great difference making Lance Stephenson. It's NBA time and we will see if he is the budding superstar that you were clamoring for during the summer. Something tells me won't be. Checking him out now Mayo is lighting him up during the first half and some dude named Middleton just blew by for an and one. The great shot creator Stephenson is also 0-4 from the field but it's early 81 to go

_________________

long time guy - please answer this question so I can have an idea if you are trolling or not:

Is Taj Gibson one of the 10 best defensive forwards in the NBA in your opinion?

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Small or power or just power forward?

_________________

All forwards included.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I may give him one of the best defensive power forwards. I would have to think about it a little more. My issue with Taj is that I hear things like he would start on most teams in the league. I provided 20 power forwards that would start over him and there was not one dissenting opinion. He is a decent backup but not a starter if he is a starter then why isn't he starting? Can someone please explain that

_________________

Where's the list of 20? I promise you I will dissent.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Uh oh he is having a good game I may have to do the sports talk back pedal

_________________

This is BS. Taj may not be a star but is is very good. Do not give me the 20 better.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

It was in one of the threads from the summer. I will try and remember. Zach Randolph. Faried. Griffith. Ibaka. Bosh. Milsap. Aldridge. Duncan. Davis. Gortat. Lee. Love. Thaddeus Young. Favors. David West. Nowitzki. That's about sixteen for now

_________________

Taj's dunk over Wade in the 2011 playoffs justify anything they pay him.

_________________

He is a good backup player. If he has to start I think he will get exposed. The Bulls think also obviously. Why else would that position be considered a position of need when it's obvious they need a wing.

_________________

Josh Smith and Greg Monroe also better.

_________________

Yeah that's 16.

Gortat is a textbook center. He's off the list.

Favors and Thad Young arent close. They're out too.

Lee's offense isn't as good as it used to be and his defense is atrocious. He's out.

Fairied is your energy guy, except he can't play a lick of defense and Taj is one of the best in the world defensively. Faried is out too.

So you have 11 guys, and Dirk, Duncan, and Randolph are near the end and Taj is in his prime.

so that leaves 8 guys I could see making a case for having over Taj for the next 2-3 years.

Consider this the dissenting opinion you said you would not get.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Josh Smith is not close to better. Just stop.

Monroe is close but I'd take Taj. I value defense and you do not.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

If you look at their career it is not close. Josh Smith has been the better player and he is younger than Gibson. Check the numbers or whatever metric you want to use. He is the better player.

_________________

_________________

No he's not. Nobody thinks Josh Smith is better than Taj. If he wasn't a dumbass he might be, but you have to watch the games to see how bad he is. You can't just look at stats.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Josh Smith better than Taj?

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

you have a lofty opinion of a guy that has averaged double figures once during his career and he is pushing thirty. Every player that I named is far more accomplished. I haven't named one person that is a potential guy. They have been better players in the NBA.

_________________

LTG is lying. I was all over him for that and his thoughts on Marshmelo.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

It is convenient to diss Josh Smith but when he was on the open market he was in greater demand than Gibson. If Gibson is so good why aren't the Bulls starting him?

_________________

Finally my other Taj guy arrives.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

It is convenient to diss Josh Smith but when he was on the open market he was in greater demand than Gibson. If Gibson is so good why aren't the Bulls starting him?

_________________

8 guys better than Taj. Using that logic he should be pushing for an all star spot don't you think? He hasn't ever and I think we know why.

_________________