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Taj Gibson Season Review – The Glue Guy

By Tamberlyn Richardson

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. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Taj Gibson
Apr 25, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Taj Gibson (22) (left) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) answers questions in the press conference after the game against the Houston Rockets in the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 105 to 99 .Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

Playoffs:

Fans began to get an idea of what a future with Taj Gibson on the Thunder squad could be. Evidence of Gibson’s effect became clearer in the post season when the Thunder were far more competitive then expected. Although the reserve unit needs to grow and improve the starting rotation showed it could stick with a lethal offense and often held double digit leads over Houston.

Adam Joseph of Sixteen Wins a Ring offered two staggering stats showcasing how much Gibson contributed to this result:

"His chemistry with defensive quarterback Andre Roberson was particularly noticeable, as they were able to easily make adjustments to the Rockets’ pick-and-roll heavy system. They would post a net rating of +15.8 per 100 possessions together on the floor in the losing series, after posting a rating of +9.9 in the regular season. That was the best mark of any 2-man group on the Thunder roster that played heavy minutes. Gibson’s bond with fellow big Steven Adams was also vital to the big man’s revival after he struggled through parts of the regular season. In the Rockets series they posted an on-court net rating of +21.7 points per 100 possessions which was the Thunder’s most reliable 2-man pairing. Adams struggled with the burden of trying to make up for the rim protection that the team lost when Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant departed this summer."

Related: T.I. Film festival series: Part 1- Taj Gibson

Offensively, Gibson  best game came in the Thunder’s lone win in the series when he scored 20 points. His game 3 performance  perhaps punctuated the fact if Westbrook had a reliable and consistent second scoring option how close the Thunder are to being among the west’s elite. Wiping away the opening game of the Rockets – Thunder series the remainder of the series was decided by a cumulative 12 points. Twelve points!

If you don’t buy that argument, consider this.  Again, removing the one blow-out game from the Rockets-Spurs series their other 5-games was decided by a cumulative 11 points. Food for thought as Sam Presti prepares to make major decisions this coming season. More on this later.

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