Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Why the Milwaukee Bucks need Taj Gibson

The Milwaukee Bucks have been a surprise competitor in the 2014-2015 NBA season. With the trade deadline coming up there are some potential moves that could be put in place to improve their roster heading into the second half of the season/playoffs. When analyzing the teams roster there seems to be no problem with youth, quickness, length, and effort. Brandon Knight has had his best season yet averaging 17.8 points, 5.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game (Espn stats). Giannis Antetokounmpo has made massive strides heading into his sophomore season averaging 12 points, 6.6 boards, and 2.2 assists per game (Espn stats). More surprise players contributing are Kris Middleton, Jared Dudley, Jerryd Bayless, John Henson, and even the rebirth of OJ Mayo. The Bucks have also battled their share of adversity with the Torn ACL of their first round pick Jabari Parker and constant troubles of their shot blocking center Larry Sanders. With the improvement at the small ball positions along with great bench scoring, the Bucks are the real deal sitting on 30 wins at the All Star Break. Ultimately with the injury prone Ersan Ilyasova, troublesome Larry Sanders and aging Zaza Pachulia, what do the young Bucks need? A physical specimen and hustle player at the 4. The perfect answer: Taj Gibson.

(http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/rKCyeX0TplS/Atlanta+Hawks+v+Chicago+Bulls+Game+Fin)

Taj has been buried by a loaded Bulls frontcourt with the rebirth of Pau Gasol and increased role in rookie Nikola Mirotic (not to mention the presence of Joakim Noah who is returning from injury soon). Taj is an all out kind of player who will get offensive and defensive rebounds, while altering or blocking shots and scoring easy buckets. This is something the Bucks lack and who help propel them to a very dangerous team come playoff time. Taj shoots a little under .500% from the field at .488% (Espn stats), and is pulling in nearly 11 points, 7 rebounds, and a block a night at only 28.5 minutes per game (Espn stats). He is a force on both sides of the ball who knows how to win and is simply becoming wasted talent in Chicago who already sits at the top of the Eastern Conference. The Bucks need to pull the trigger on a deal that would bring the big man North to Milwaukee where he can thrive in a system that plays team basketball alongside high effort and a lack of the forward/center position. Taj, also being 29 has been around the league enough to contribute veteran leadership and a fight that has been the epitome of the injury plagued Chicago Bulls the past couple of seasons. Hopefully for the Bucks sake, they can corral this big man and bring him to a young and promising roster that needs a presence down low. Only time will tell what Milwaukee tries to do.