Trans. May 17 6:33 ET (May 17 6:33 ET ) After signing a long-term contract extension in the offseason, Taj Gibson struggled with inconsistency and injuries throughout the 2012-13 campaign.
A look around the league and the Web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.
C : Heat.com . With plenty of input from Miami Heat assistant coach David Fizdale, Couper Moorhead offers a really fascinating in-depth look at how the Chicago Bulls use Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson as something like quarterback-spying linebackers in their defense, how the Heat changed up their offensive attack to thwart the Bulls' big men in their Game 3 win , and how Miami's offense continues to adapt and evolve as its players' skill-sets develop. Really interesting stuff.
PF : Grantland . This one dropped before Game 3, but I still like Brett Koremenos' breakdown of how the Oklahoma City Thunder can de-emphasize their frontcourt offensive struggles by going small, and how they can do so without getting pounded by the Memphis Grizzlies' bruising big men. It'll be interesting to see if Scott Brooks goes smaller for longer stretches in search of a series-evening win in Monday's Game 4 .
SF : Welcome to Loud City . Even with Kevin Durant playing less-than-celestial basketball, virtually everyone else not named Reggie Jackson struggling and the Grindhouse faithful in full throat, the Thunder still found themselves tied at 81 with about 90 seconds to go and a real shot at swiping back home-court advantage from the Grizzlies. And then, thanks to a couple of critical late mistakes, it all went to pieces. Noted masochist J.A. Sherman revisits the scene of the crimes.
CHICAGO (AP) -- The NBA has fined Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson $25,000 for an outburst at a referee in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Miami.
The NBA has fined Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson $25,000 for an outburst at a referee in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Miami. The league announced the fine Friday.
The Scoop:The Heat were well on their way to a 115-78 victory when Gibson went off at an official early in the fourth quarter. With 10:13 remaining, he did not leave the court in a timely fashion after he and teammate Joakim Noah were ejected by referee Scott Foster. Gibson continued to shout at Foster. The Bulls were called for six technicals during that game and Miami three. The game was the most lopsided postseason win for Miami and the biggest playoff loss for Chicago.
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