Maybe Thibs is Right

[RayClayMatthews]

Anyone think they are missing Lu as a presence in the locker room? He was a glue guy along with Kirk I think, the true Bulls vets. Lu was def a steadying factor here and Thibs's rock

[sco]

I think the limited minutes and practice, combined with some key injuries would put you squarely in this situation. I know we don't like to hear this, but these constraints will increase the amount of time it will take for this team to function more coherently. I am fine with us losing (a reasonable amount of) regular season games more than we otherwise would have with more minutes and harder practice. The goal is to be a play-off team in April and healthy. Regular season champs = out of gas come play-offs.

[bernun]

Anyone think they are missing Lu as a presence in the locker room? He was a glue guy along with Kirk I think, the true Bulls vets. Lu was def a steadying factor here and Thibs's rock

Could be. It's hard to know the dynamic of the locker room. I'll get flamed for suggesting it but maybe even Boozer had a calming effect on the locker room.

If Noah, Lu and him were toeing the line and two go, the dynamic changes. Something has changed in the team dynamic.

I'm wondering if Thibs rotations are becoming more who is willing to buy in and who isn't.

[bernun]

deleted double post

[Rerisen]

Sam Smith actually suggested we play zone defense to hide Gasol's slow feet.

Wow you know its getting desperate.

[Dajody10]

Unless Thibs has lost the team, similar to what happened with Skiles in 07/08.....

[Sebastian]

Please kind sir, which cake would you like to have, the "please let Derrick be healthy by playoffs" brownie or the "let's limit minute restrictions" tiramisu.

I'd like the Derrick plays star player minutes version. You know, like 36 minutes a game like other star players do. If he can't, then I guess he simply isn't a star anymore. He's been coddled for quite a while now. We are halfway through the season. It is time for him to step it up and play hard all the time. And if he can't do that and be healthy in the playoffs, we are sunk anyhow. A healthy Rose like we currently see playing isn't getting us anywhere.

He's playing 30 MPG, 33 in January, after missing 2 years. Where exactly is the coddling? The best PG in the game only plays 32.9 MPG and last I checked both he and his team are doing alright.

There are a lot of problem's on this team at the moment, but Rose's minutes aren't one of them. If you want him to play 36 MPG just wait til the postseason.

[RayClayMatthews]

Anyone think they are missing Lu as a presence in the locker room? He was a glue guy along with Kirk I think, the true Bulls vets. Lu was def a steadying factor here and Thibs's rock

Could be. It's hard to know the dynamic of the locker room. I'll get flamed for suggesting it but maybe even Boozer had a calming effect on the locker room.

If Noah, Lu and him were toeing the line and two go, the dynamic changes. Something has changed in the team dynamic.

I'm wondering if Thibs rotations are becoming more who is willing to buy in and who isn't.

could be a good point, and he may think guys are milking injuries.

#FREENAZI

[Dr Pepper]

Well, Thibs was part of the Boston coaching staff that won a championship, he watched Doc Rivers play his big 3 players...

Pierce(30) - 35.9 minutes
Allen(32) - 35.9 minutes
KG(31) - 32.8 minutes

Paul Pierce at that point had only had 6 seasons of 38+ minutes a night.
Ray Allen only had 6 seasons of 38+ minutes a night.
KG had only had 10 seasons of 38+ minutes a night at that point.

THE BEST PLAYERS PLAY A LOT OF MINUTES... what in the hell has changed to where minutes are now a problem when they hadn't been in the past?

The minutes caught up to KG though and he broke down.

There's more 3's now, and teams are learning from minutes management studies. Teamball and fresh legs are the trends the league follows unless you have a 6'6"+ MVP

I know the Bulls have had injuries, but it's just not right that Pau Gasol is averaging as many minutes per game as Marc Gasol. For another example everyone on the Hawks, Warriors, Spurs, and other playoffs ballclubs are averaging fewer minutes than Pau (not to mention Butler at 39 minutes per game). Thibs is still coaching like it's 2007

[dumbell78]

I feel that Thibs is getting way more of the "blame" here and gets talked about way too much, while we gloss over the construction of said team by GarPax. Thibs has had only ONE year with a fully healthy talented roster and took that team to the ECF. He has his faults and Lord knows I have pointed them out plenty of times here. However we need to peel back the onion a bit more a talk about the job GarPax have done with the roster make-up and decisions they have made. Namely:

Going into the season with MDJ as your starting SF
Signing Kirk to that no trade clause contract.
Banking and betting on a rookie to help with that HUGE void at SF
Letting Jen override Thibs with certain players
Vetoing bringing back Ron Adams even after Noah and Rose asked for him back

I wont even get into the Rip Hamilton (2011)/Kirk Hinrich (2012) signings, dumping of Korver for a TPE in order to avoid the tax that they ended up paying anyways.

These guys have dropped the ball quite a few times and need to be held accountable, we have a few threads on Thibs/Players but none about these two and the FO. Our issues are deeper than Thibs and the guys on the court.

[MC3]

I feel that Thibs is getting way more of the "blame" here and gets talked about way too much, while we gloss over the construction of said team by GarPax. Thibs has had only ONE year with a fully healthy talented roster and took that team to the ECF. He has his faults and Lord knows I have pointed them out plenty of times here. However we need to peel back the onion a bit more a talk about the job GarPax have done with the roster make-up and decisions they have made. Namely:

Going into the season with MDJ as youre starting SF
Signing Kirk to that no trade clause contract.
Banking and betting on a rookie to help with that HUGE void at SF
Letting Jen override Thibs with certain players
Vetoing bringing back Ron Adams even after Noah and Rose asked for him back

I wont even get into the Rip Hamilton (2011)/Kirk Hinrich (2012) signings, dumping of Korver for a TPE in order to avoid the tax that they ended up paying anyways.

These guys have dropped the ball quite a few times and need to be held accountable, we have a few threads on Thibs/Players but none about these two and the FO. Our issues are deeper than Thibs and the guys on the court.

Everything in this post is one of reasons why Thibs wont be fired. GarPax and crew knows they are part of it. And if they fire Thibs and similar results continue they are the one who would need to get the blame. You could say GarPax together with Thibs created and in same time destroyed Bulls team. GarPax with stupid FO's moves and Thibs with his coaching and drilling this veteran team.

[Chicago Brawls]

The take it easy approach in the full glory of its results.

Enjoy.

[Googjob]

If Thibs got fired I'd give it 5 minutes before Cleveland got him on the phone and brought him in to destroy us for the next few years.

[Axl Rose]

thibs isn't gonna be fired

not this season atleast

[JeremyB0001]

But what's the theory for how the lack of full participation in practice is killing the team? I would understand if players were skipping practice entirely. Then they might not be having the schemes drilled into them, hearing about tweaks to the schemes, or doing their video work. I would understand if the players are just being lazy. If they're not getting up extra shots after practice or doing extra conditioning work and it's causing poor shooting, a lack of strength, or fatigue. But I haven't heard anything like that alleged. What I've heard from people like Cowley is that certain players are sitting out certain strenuous drills to preserve their body. For instance, perhaps Jen is saying that Derrick shouldn't participate in a drill where the players practice closing out on a defender. Do you guys really think that these drills could be a key to the team's success? I have a hard time believing that.

[Mech Engineer]

I feel that Thibs is getting way more of the "blame" here and gets talked about way too much, while we gloss over the construction of said team by GarPax. Thibs has had only ONE year with a fully healthy talented roster and took that team to the ECF. He has his faults and Lord knows I have pointed them out plenty of times here. However we need to peel back the onion a bit more a talk about the job GarPax have done with the roster make-up and decisions they have made. Namely:

Going into the season with MDJ as your starting SF
Signing Kirk to that no trade clause contract.
Banking and betting on a rookie to help with that HUGE void at SF
Letting Jen override Thibs with certain players
Vetoing bringing back Ron Adams even after Noah and Rose asked for him back

I wont even get into the Rip Hamilton (2011)/Kirk Hinrich (2012) signings, dumping of Korver for a TPE in order to avoid the tax that they ended up paying anyways.

These guys have dropped the ball quite a few times and need to be held accountable, we have a few threads on Thibs/Players but none about these two and the FO. Our issues are deeper than Thibs and the guys on the court.

Good points. People expect perfection from Thibs such as a DJ Augustin/Boozer team as some of the primary options on offense should be going deep into the playoffs. If not, it's mostly Thibs's fault. Or, a Nate Robinson as the key offensive player led team should be beating a prime LeBron /Bosh /Wade team in the playoffs. Otherwise, it is Thibs inability to make adjustments or his inability to succeed in the playoffs.

GMing is not easy either. But, the blame is to be shared if anyone is going to use that excuse.

[otwok]

The bulls aren't firing Thibs. They would trade him before firing him.

[2Chainz]

But what's the theory for how the lack of full participation in practice is killing the team? I would understand if players were skipping practice entirely. Then they might not be having the schemes drilled into them, hearing about tweaks to the schemes, or doing their video work. I would understand if the players are just being lazy. If they're not getting up extra shots after practice or doing extra conditioning work and it's causing poor shooting, a lack of strength, or fatigue. But I haven't heard anything like that alleged. What I've heard from people like Cowley is that certain players are sitting out certain strenuous drills to preserve their body. For instance, perhaps Jen is saying that Derrick shouldn't participate in a drill where the players practice closing out on a defender. Do you guys really think that these drills could be a key to the team's success? I have a hard time believing that.

This never used to happen before but watch Rose as he closes out on shooters now he always always looks down to make sure he doesn't land on a foot.