The old Bulls regime painted Tom Thibodeau as a minutes grinder, but the numbers the last three years tell a completely different story for the one-time Bulls coach.
Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
The old Bulls regime didn’t just want Tom Thibodeau put in that box when they were working on his dismissal during that 2014-15 season, they wanted their one-time coach buried in it.
That’s how the false narrative that Thibodeau ran his players into the ground started and grew. Years later, that old Bulls regime is long gone, while Thibodeau still carries the weight of that narrative.
The update to the saga? That was provided on Friday with Thibodeau making it very clear that outside noise stays outside in his world.
“Sometimes everyone gets put in a box, that’s the way it works,” Thibodeau said. “The people that have never done this, people have opinions, but see you don’t listen to those opinions. The people that have done it, if they say something maybe you take a look at it. That stuff, whether it’s praise or criticism, it doesn’t matter.”
The kicker, however, and a point that Thibodeau got a good laugh out of, was what’s gone on with the Bulls the last three seasons compared to his time with the Knicks.
Entering Friday’s game between the Bulls and Knicks, DeMar DeRozan led the entire NBA in total minutes played, while Coby White was fourth. Not a single Knicks player in the top 15.
Last season, Zach LaVine was third in total minutes played, Nikola Vucevic was fourth, and DeRozan was 11th. One Knick was in the top 10, with Julius Randle at No. 5.
During the 2021-22 season, DeRozan was third and not one of Thibodeau’s guys were in the top 10.
Some minutes grinder that Thibodeau.
“Really? Can you repeat that,” Thibodeau said laughing, when current Bulls minutes were thrown in his direction. “You have to figure out what’s best for your team. What gives you the best chance to win. And if you have guys that can handle that, that’s what they should get. You check the box scores every night, there’s a lot of guys that play those types of minutes. People tend not to look at, ‘OK, what are the star players playing?’ Because you’re matching your primary defender with him. Otherwise, you are reducing your chances of winning. The bottom line is to win games.”
A trait that Thibodeau and Bulls coach Billy Donovan share.
The difference is nationally Donovan is never thrown in that same box with Thibodeau as being a coach that plays guys heavy minutes, despite what the numbers say.
“I think Billy is terrific, and he’s done a great job,” Thibodeau said. “Every team is different, and you have to do what you think is best for your team.
“You know your player better than anybody, and I think the player knows himself better than anybody. Sometimes narratives go out there.”
Back at it
After missing practice on Thursday with soreness in his right knee still a problem, Torrey Craig was back in his rotation spot against the Knicks, coming off the bench.
Donovan said it will be an issue that likely lasts the remainder of the season.
“We’re just trying to get rid of the stiffness, soreness that he’s been dealing with,” Donovan said. “The biggest thing is with the plantar fasciitis and then having the knee injury, he just hasn’t had a lot of games back. There’s just sometimes where he’s a little bit stiff and doesn’t feel great.”
Summer school
With injured players Zach LaVine (foot surgery), Patrick Williams (foot surgery) and Lonzo Ball (left knee) all in town the last week to continue their rehab, Donovan was asked how he would handle his visits with each in the offseason.
The plan was to give them a month or so to decompress and then try and visit twice with each of them starting in June, whether they were still rehabbing or involved in basketball activities.