Thibs praises Spurs "making a statement"

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

http://www.lpigottmedia.co.uk/nflssn...season-minutes

Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, who famously pushes his starters' playing time and once played Jimmy Butler 48 minutes in a preseason game, is a fan of the San Antonio Spurs giving their stars major minutes. He's also not thrilled about how his team is performing, via the Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley:

It's not only what he hasn't been seeing from his core players but what he has observed this preseason from the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. In the two preseason games the Spurs played overseas last week, veteran Tim Duncan played 33 and 35 minutes, while Tony Parker played 35 and 36.
‘‘I'm watching San Antonio, and they're going after it,'' Thibodeau said. ‘‘Parker, Duncan, they're playing huge minutes right off the start. I think it's a strong message what they're saying right now. They're preparing themselves to defend their championship. And so in order to get that way from them, you're going to have to wrestle it away from them. They're not just going to give it away. Your mind-set has to be right.''
…
‘‘I keep harping on it: The regular season is going to be here before you know it,'' Thibodeau said after the win improved the Bulls to 2-2 in preseason play. ‘‘We have a lot of guys that aren't sharp right now.''

For the record, the Spurs are heading to Phoenix on Wednesday and leaving Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter at home. Leonard has an eye infection and Splitter has a strained right calf muscle, but Duncan and Ginobili will simply be resting. Yes, San Antonio did play its starters a lot in its first couple of preseason games, but it's pretty funny that Thibodeau referencing the team that cares the most about keeping guys rested. The Spurs also lost to ALBA Berlin, so I'm not sure what kind of message they're sending.

Anyway, this sort of stuff is familiar to Bulls fans. Thibodeau always stresses the importance of preparation, and he's not one to dismiss these exhibition games as meaningless. The demanding coach is generally saying things like this at this time of year.

[Tuddy]

They were doing it to showcase the game in Europe. Really has nothing to do with anything else.

[Silver&Black]

I've always liked Thibs....

But if Rose gets injured early...his fans will say it's because he played him too much during the preseason.

[DAF86]

48 minutes on a preseason game?

[NASpurs]

Thibs, ender of careers.

[Fireball]

he still does not have a clue ...

[HI-FI]

48 minutes on a preseason game?

i laughed when i saw that as well.

i appreciate how ridiculous it is.

[T Park]

Thibs is a great coach, but, man he's too damn much of a drill Sargent.

[MilesTeg]

he still does not have a clou ...

But does he have a marteau?

[spursparker9]

I would give up Boylan for Thibs.

Thibs is probably great as an assistant coach but not the head coach.

[Fireball]

thanks to the the spelling department ... fixed it

[Obstructed_View]

[Raven]

he is mad.

[SupremeGuy]

What an idiot.

I wonder if he really believes that or is just looking to excuse his own minute management?..

[TheGreatYacht]

Thibs made Doc Rivers tbh

[Dex]

Thibs is a great coach, but, man he's too damn much of a drill Sargent.

And that's why Chicago won't be able to challenge Cleveland barring injuries significantly altering the landscape.

Chicago will make the playoffs in the East, but will be worn down by the time they get there. The Cavs have the much deeper bench and should gain the benefit of rest through multiple blowouts, whilst the Bulls will be grinding it out all season like they always do. If those two meet in the playoffs, Chicago will be running on fumes.

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

And that's why Chicago won't be able to challenge Cleveland barring injuries significantly altering the landscape.

Chicago will make the playoffs in the East, but will be worn down by the time they get there. The Cavs have the much deeper bench and should gain the benefit of rest through multiple blowouts, whilst the Bulls will be grinding it out all season like they always do. If those two meet in the playoffs, Chicago will be running on fumes.

ChiaChia has depth this year

[Dex]

ChiaChia has depth this year

Won't stop Thibs from running Rose, Gasol, and Noah into the ground.

Gasol did say he wanted minutes, though.

[illusioNtEk]

Where does this fool get his info from? Nba TV? LoL

Only reason why Tim Duncan and Tony Parker got that much minutes is because they were playing international and fans overseas once-in-a-lifetime chance to see them play so you know Pop played them more minutes but I'm sure from now on they won't play as much until the season begins.

[FromWayDowntown]

I would give up Boylan for Thibs.

"I would give up Splitter for Lebron."

[hooperflash]

Gangsta Timmy:

"(Bleep) that bull(bleep), ni**a we just came to play.. came to win. There's no message behind that, we're not trying to send messages to anybody."

[look_at_g_shred]

"they're going after it"

[cjw]

Chicago will make the playoffs in the East, but will be worn down by the time they get there.

I don't understand why they insist on going pedal to the metal in the east as opposed to toning it back somewhat. They could play only four of their top five guys (four starters plus Gibson) each game for most of the year for 32 minutes a night and still run away with a top four seed. Why not leave something in the tank, particularly if Rose stays healthy?

To me, it's as dumb as what the Washington Nationals did a few years ago with Strasburg - letting him hit an innings limit and then having to shut him down for the playoffs, as opposed to easing him throughout the year to be there when they made the playoffs.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

TD probably won't see 24 minutes in a game again until the season starts....but whatever.