Taj Gibson is the Oklahoma City Thunder’s x-factor

Feb 28, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Utah Jazz center Boris Diaw (33) looks to drives to the basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Taj Gibson (22) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Utah Jazz center Boris Diaw (33) looks to drives to the basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Taj Gibson (22) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma City Thunder
Mar 27, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Taj Gibson (22) helps up guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder defeat the Mavericks 92-91. Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

With the season winding down to a close, the Oklahoma City Thunder have vaulted Taj Gibson into the starting lineup, and have done wonders since. Can he really be the X Factor?

Ever since Taj Gibson has started the last nine games for the Oklahoma City Thunder they are 7-2. Those two losses came against top teams in the West: the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. During this nine game stretch Gibson has averaged around 11 points per game. That’s nothing too amazing, but it is certainly better than Domantas Sabonis.

Since trading for Gibson, the Thunder have had a better sense of leadership and veteran presence. With Gibson being 31 years old, adding him to one of the NBA’s youngest roster would only do wonders.

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Russell Westbrook is obviously the best player on the court every night. But it is not too crazy to say Taj Gibson can be the second best player on any night as well. Overall, he is less-talented than Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams, but the presence and help he brings to the court helps in ways they cannot.

Playoff Time

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So this brings to the point that Taj Gibson can be the Oklahoma City Thunder x-factor. As we have seen, Gibson is certainly capable of scoring 15 points on any given night. I think something that is also note worthy is that come playoff time, Gibson becomes a better player. Just two years ago, Gibson upped his game and was averaging over 18 points per game in the playoffs.

That’s also something Gibson excels in over others on the roster: playoff experience. He has been to the playoffs six out of his seven years in the league. That along with his defensive presence will make offenses think twice about driving the lane with Gibson and Adams down low.

Overall I think Gibson will be the x-factor against whoever the Thunder play in the first round. Whether that is the Rockets, Jazz or Clippers, he has shown he can hold his own against them all. Since joining the Thunder, Gibson has scored 15 points on the Jazz and 12 on the Rockets. If he could score that much or more in a seven-game series every night, it would give the Thunder a chance to win every night.