Taj Gibson: Chicago to contend for NBA World Championship again next season – NBA Update
The Chicago Bulls might have been dumped out in the first round of the playoffs this season but that hasn’t necessarily dampened their spirits. Chicago’s reserve forward Taj Gibson said the Bulls are as confident in their abilities as ever and expect to
be in the run for the NBA World Championship again next season.
The Bulls lost super star Derrick Rose to a devastating injury in the first game of their post season campaign, against the Philadelphia 76ers. They then also had to see Joakim Noah sit out games with another knock.
The loss of these two players, especially Rose who is not likely to return for a long time, devastated the Bulls and the team crumbled in 6 games against the lowly ranked Sixers. Asked if the Bulls still expect to be among contenders next season, Gibson
was positive.
"I think so," he said Thursday afternoon.
He explained that the poor performance in the playoffs was down to injuries and the effect they had on the team rather than their general play or ability. Taj believed that the Bulls had started off well and were in good shape, but the injuries just knocked
the wind out of them.
"I think we just had a rough end of the (season). We look at it; our first game of the playoffs was great. Guys were really (energized) we were running up and down, good defence, solid morals, and all throughout the years guys were just getting better and
better and adjusting to different roles. It's just tough to have guys go down to injury like that, especially when I felt we could have won that series.”
Gibson was one of the guys who stepped up in the absence of the more established names in Chicago. He toiled hard along with the rest of the team but in the end came up short. He was convinced however that the Bulls just need to stick to their ideals and
come back fighting next season to be successful.
“We just have to get back and adjust and get ready for the next year. Just have the same morals. And I think our team has a lot to build on."
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