Infinite_limit
05-22-2015, 02:13 PM
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12890745/tom-thibodeau-tenure-chicago-bulls
Excerpts
"Tom Thibodeau is one of the most successful and respected coaches in the NBA. He loves being in Chicago and coaching a Bulls team that has undergone a renaissance over his tenure over the last five years. So why is there such a widespread belief throughout the league that Thibodeau will be coaching elsewhere next season? Why is there very little hope within the Bulls organization that a reconciliation between Thibodeau, Bulls GM Gar Forman and executive VP John Paxson is possible?
Here is a look back at the most tumultuous times of Thibodeau's reign -- filled with ups and downs that left the Bulls wondering about their future."
The last game of the season against Charlotte last year:
"On this night, all those cards [resting players] would seem to be worth playing. The simple fact is it's a game the Bulls would be well served to lose -- a loss assures them the conference's fourth seed, which would guarantee avoiding LeBron James and the Miami Heat until the conference finals.
But Thibodeau coaches every game like it's his last. Forman watches emerging star Jimmy Butler log 48 minutes, then look entirely depleted after the game. Joakim Noah plays 42 minutes on a left knee that would need surgery just a couple of weeks later.
The Bulls open the playoffs against the Wizards but can't summon the spirit necessary to win.
Butler looks gassed much of the series and admits he was tired. Noah limps his way through most of the five games looking like a shell of the man who had just won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
No one knows exactly when Noah's knee injury occurred. But everyone in the front office knows 42 meaningless minutes in overtime against Charlotte, in a game the team seemed better served to lose, was a needless risk.
As much as any event soured relations between a winning coach and his front office, it was the game against the Bobcats."
Excerpts
"Tom Thibodeau is one of the most successful and respected coaches in the NBA. He loves being in Chicago and coaching a Bulls team that has undergone a renaissance over his tenure over the last five years. So why is there such a widespread belief throughout the league that Thibodeau will be coaching elsewhere next season? Why is there very little hope within the Bulls organization that a reconciliation between Thibodeau, Bulls GM Gar Forman and executive VP John Paxson is possible?
Here is a look back at the most tumultuous times of Thibodeau's reign -- filled with ups and downs that left the Bulls wondering about their future."
The last game of the season against Charlotte last year:
"On this night, all those cards [resting players] would seem to be worth playing. The simple fact is it's a game the Bulls would be well served to lose -- a loss assures them the conference's fourth seed, which would guarantee avoiding LeBron James and the Miami Heat until the conference finals.
But Thibodeau coaches every game like it's his last. Forman watches emerging star Jimmy Butler log 48 minutes, then look entirely depleted after the game. Joakim Noah plays 42 minutes on a left knee that would need surgery just a couple of weeks later.
The Bulls open the playoffs against the Wizards but can't summon the spirit necessary to win.
Butler looks gassed much of the series and admits he was tired. Noah limps his way through most of the five games looking like a shell of the man who had just won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
No one knows exactly when Noah's knee injury occurred. But everyone in the front office knows 42 meaningless minutes in overtime against Charlotte, in a game the team seemed better served to lose, was a needless risk.
As much as any event soured relations between a winning coach and his front office, it was the game against the Bobcats."