Adieu, Thibodeau?

The Bulls were eliminated 94-73 by the Cavs in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the score wasn’t as close as the numbers suggest.  After five years at the helm, Coach Tom Thibodeau appears on his way out.

Thibodeau and Derrick Rose with two good knees might have worked, or Thibodeau without Rose at all; the two Rose-less Bulls’ teams both overachieved into the playoffs.  But this team, with a reduced Rose, laid an egg.  Cavs’ forward Kevin Love was out for the series, LeBron James was ice cold and guard Kyrie Irving—the next Rose—played all of twelve minutes, yet the Bulls still lost by 21.  Thibodeau stakes his reputation on intense practices, but to what end?  The Bulls can’t get around a screen, and they can’t set one, either.  Ditto defending against and hitting three-pointers.  As for Rose, he looked lost, and more than willing to let any of his teammates charge to the basket.  And why does Joakim Noah try to bring the ball upcourt like he’s a guard?

The Bulls have had two exceptional head coaches, Dick Motta in the ‘70s and Phil Jackson in the ‘90s.  Motta brought passion and smarts to the job (only to be done in by his paranoia); Jackson added a keen sense of irony, unheard of in professional sports.  If taskmaster Thibodeau has passion, he hides it in a Rose-like monotone, which is not the best way to project leadership.

This is a franchise in trouble, more old than young, and said to be interested in a rookie replacement for Thibodeau.  Fred Hoiberg would be advised to think long and hard before leaving the college ranks for a team in search of a madhouse, to say nothing of a personality.