Keeping Thibodeau is Best Move Bulls Can
Make
While the Chicago Bulls are currently in a three-way
fight for the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, another
possibility exists of them slipping out of home court advantage entirely for
the first round if they’re not careful.
Falling back into fifth place or even further would be a blemish on the
effort that Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau has made this year. Of course, he
could make a miracle run and it still might not affect his tenuous situation
for next year and beyond.
Stoking Controversy
That’s because since mid-January,
Thibodeau’s been the subject of speculation concerning his job status that’s
come primarily from national outlets. Comments that players have tuned him out
because his intense style has worn on them are mixed in with a supposedly shaky
relationship with the front office. Then
again, the fact that the Bulls are even in the conversation about postseason
home court advantage is an indication that Thibodeau has performed above and
beyond what’s been expected. When it
comes to Bulls’ management, the complaint has usually been focused toward the
minutes his players rack up during the course of the season. That’s certainly a
change of pace from two years ago, when team general manager Gar Forman
endorsed the philosophy.
Injury Woes
No doubt the attitude adjustment stems from
injuries sustained. The current injury to Joakim Noah is the latest headache to
surface, since Jimmy Butler is also out with elbow issues and won'r return for
a few more weeks. The elephant in the
room is the Derrick Rose situation. With him, the Bulls have a chance to
challenge for the conference title. However, the ever-present knee trouble has
put him out until at least the middle of next month.
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