Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesIn 1989, the Chicago Bulls gave an unproven assistant coach by the name of Phil Jackson his first opportunity to be a head coach. It was a decision the Bulls never regretted, as the team went on to win six NBA titles under his guidance. Since his departure, they haven't done much of anything. This year they're trying to repeat the magic, giving Tom Thibodeau his first opportunity. The way the season has started, it's looking like they made the right decision.There's no question that the Bulls are an improvement over Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
last year's team. They have started the season 7-4, and have wins against some of the best teams in the West, including Portland, Denver, and just last Friday, a come from behind win against the Mavericks in Dallas. In the Hollinger rankings, they are currently eighth, fourth in the East. This is where they were supposed to be—if they had their key offseasonacquisition, CarlosBoozer. What makes their start impressive is that they've done it without him. Boozer broke his hand tripping over a gym bag answering the door this summer and has yet to play a game for the Bulls.The reason that the Bulls have done so well in his absence can be summed up in a single word: Thibs. Derrick Rose has emerged as a superstar, Joakim Noah has elevated his game to another level, averaging career highs in scoring, rebounding, and assists, all while committing half a foul less per game. Luol Deng has started looking like he is worth his contract. Taj Gibson is making people think twice about talking about trading him. All the holdovers from last season are looking better than they did last year.Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesFurthermore, all the new acquisitions are starting to fit in. CJ Watson had his best game last Friday, contributing to the Bulls come-from-behind win. Ronnie Brewer is getting healthier and becoming the key player off the bench. Keith Bogans is not the most important on their offense, but he's been key on the defense. Rookie Omar Asik has offered surprising contributions. Kyle Korver is actually Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
shooting better from the three-point line than his NBA record 53.6 percent at 56.3 percent.When you see across the board improvement like that, it all points to one thing: coaching. Tom Thibodeau had long earned his reputation as a defensive guru, but an undervalued aspect of his game was his tremendous talent for player development. Among players who have credited him for improvement in their games are the likes of Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, Rajon Rondo, and even Kobe Bryant. When Bryant was in high school, Thibs was an assistant with the 76ers and Bryant would come by for tutelage. He still credits the new Bulls head coach with developing his offensive game.In post game interviews with the players, it's almost impossible to get through a minute without each of them saying "Coach said..." and then following it up with some coaching advice that helped them in their play. After Derrick Rose finally got some foul calls in the Bulls' November 16 comeback win over the Rockets, he was asked about getting the calls. He explained how "Coach told [him] to go harder to the basket." When Taj broke out of his slump he remarked that "Coach knows I've been working on my jumper, but he said don't rely on jump shots. Attack the glass and hit the boards. I've struggled the last two games, so he challenged me." When asked about his improvement this season Deng said, "The system with Coach Thibs now is really allowing me to be a basketball player." It seems that to a man, the players on his team have a genuine affection for their coach.Elsa/Getty ImagesIn a time where X's and O's seem to be all that's discussed when conversing about a coach, the actual act of coaching can get lost. Thibs isn't a "players coach" in the conventional sense, but he is a coach who coaches players, and as a result the players love him. It was evident in his return to Boston when his old team greeted him. Even Kevin Garnett looked pleasant when they chatted after the game. However, don't think for a second he doesn't have a handle on those X's and O's. There's so much basketball crammed in his head it's hard to believe there's room for anything else.His postgame press conferences have the flavor of Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
a college lecture, with the press his students. Instead of dismissing the questions about his decisions, he not only answers them, he teaches them. It's almost as though you can hear whichever reporter asked a particular question nodding his head as he learns what the professor is teaching. You can't hear him talk about basketball without realizing immediately that he has a tremendous grasp of the game. You can even hear it in his team as they are starting to talk logistics in their postgame interviews as well.And although they are newly assembled, they are in fact a real "team." As the players came together, a common theme became apparent. Young, athletic, high energy, coachable players with good attitudes. Now that we're starting to see the finished project on the court, we can see what Thibs had in mind from the beginning. It's what Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle called "the highest motor in the league."Who deserves the most credit for the Bulls improvement?Who deserves the most credit for the Bulls improvement?Tom Thibodeau58.2%Derrick Rose37.2%Joakim Noah3.1%Taj Gibson1.5%Total votes: 586People were surprised to learn that Thibs, a noted defensive guru, got the job based on his outlining of his plans for the offense, but not anymore. Not now that we're seeing it come to fruition. The offense is characterized by a lot of crisp passing, and is led by young superstar Derrick Rose. When Rose has the ball, he's always a threat to score. If you blink, he is going to be dropping the ball in the net by the time you're finished. If Rose is double-teamed or well-guarded, the Bulls' crisp passing game has the ball moving to the open man who makes the shot. While the Bulls right now are absent another player who can create their own shot, they more than compensate for that with quick passing and the play away from the ball of Luol Deng.Defensively the team is led by Deng, who has been outstanding against many of the league's top players this year, including Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony (whose scoring came with Deng on the bench). It's characterized by high energy and a lot of hands. It's a work in progress, but the improvement is apparent. Through the Bulls' first five games, they yielded 105 points per game and had people wondering, "What happened to the defense?" Since then, they've only yielded 92.67 points per game, four of those games coming against the top offenses in the league. Thibs' defensive genius is starting to Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
prove itself.And all of this has come without their key offseason acquisition. One can only anticipate what happens once Boozer returns. Clearly, this is a team that is greater than the sum of its parts, and we haven't even seen all of the parts in play yet. Despite having played the East's toughest schedule and without Boozer, they are presently third in the Eastern Conference standings. It's beginning to look like the Bulls are legitimate contenders for the Eastern Conference finals, especially when you factor in the lackluster start of the Miami Heat. If they continue on this way, don't be surprised if Coach Thibs is Coach of the Year. The only Bulls fan with a valid complaint might be the poor guy who bought the season tickets right behind him. The man never sits down.
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