Bulls' Gibson taking patient approach with ankle sprain

At least Chicago Bulls fans are comfortable with injury uncertainty by now.

Having already dealt with Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol nursing day-to-day injuries - in Rose and Gasol's cases, ongoing ones - the Bulls now face an uncertain timeline for Taj Gibson, who sprained his left ankle for the third time in seven months on Friday.

Gibson was originally called day-to-day, but given his recent history with the ankle - he sprained it on Oct. 31, too, missing one game - both player and team appear set to take a cautious approach.

"I just have to be smart," Gibson told reporters.

Gibson explained that the ankle isn't strong enough to prevent a re-aggravation, so he's taking it slow this time around:

I really have to get it strong because it hurts my athleticism, not being able to do certain things. It's frustrating because everyone knows how I am. It takes a lot to have me sit out. I just don't want the same thing to keep happening.
...
It's still sore. It's still weak. Just have to get back to trusting the doctors and doing it the right way instead of just saying, 'Patch me up, Coach,' and throwing me out there. I have to be smarter.

An extended absence for Gibson would test the Bulls' frontcourt depth, though they're fairly set there when Gasol is healthy. Gibson was averaging 29 minutes over 12 games, scoring 12.4 points with 5.8 rebounds, and the team was 2.6 points per-100 possessions better with him on the floor than without.

Still, the Bulls are looking toward the playoffs, and Gibson's health in April is far more important than maintaining an edge in November.