In Gibson we trust

The Chicago Bulls have looked good so far this preseason, and that's without All Star center Joakim Noah.

Call it bad luck, but the Bulls just can’t keep the team healthy and on the court at the same time. The endless injuries that plague the Bulls’ core players would be a bad thing for most teams, but the Bulls have a deep bench.

In fact, not many teams can pull off a 7-0 record without integral players. It’s a good thing coach Tom Thibodeau knows how to get the best out of this team despite unfavorable circumstances.

While the spotlight has been on Derrick Rose, his return and his impressive stats (50 percent from the field for 21.7 points per game), the real story is the emergence of role players, especially Taj Gibson.

That deep bench the Bulls are notorious for, the “Bench Mob,” is led by Gibson, and rightfully so.

With Noah out, Gibson has stepped into a larger role, filling in for a depleted frontcourt. Gibson’s has been so good that he is outperforming incumbent starting power forward Carlos Boozer.

That four-year, $38 million contract extension he signed this time last year is looking like it is paying off. $9.5 million a year is an expensive price tag for a backup power forward, but Gibson will earn every penny of that if Noah’s problematic foot injuries reoccur.

In Gibson we trust.