Ranking The 5 Best Coaches In The NBA
By John Kim
No. 4: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls
May 8, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau during the second half in game two of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Tom Thibodeau has been one of the most successful coaches in the NBA for the past three seasons.
In his three seasons, the Bulls have made the playoffs in each year, and they are 157-73. Though he has had much success throughout his short head coaching career, 2012-13 proved to be Thibodeau’s coming out party.
After losing Derrick Rose for the entire season, the Bulls could have packed their bags early on. Instead, they locked up the fifth seed in the East, knocked out Brooklyn and frustrated Miami for five games.
Thibodeau is a mastermind on the defensive end of the court. He drives his players, often through injury (see Joakim Noah and Luol Deng). Even without one of the top five players in the world, Thibodeau took a team with a starting backcourt of an aging Kirk Hinrich and sophomore Jimmy Butler to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Against Miami, Thibodeau beautifully orchestrated a physical and brutal brand of basketball. By playing physically and not allowing LeBron James and Co. to bully them, the Bulls put themselves in a position to compete each game. Often playing without three of their best five players, the Bulls led by Thibodeau, did a heck of a job.