Well Pippen Peoples, the fun begins soon. At the end of the month, the Chicago Bulls will play my favorite team, the New York Knicks which will start the beginning of a great year. It will be the start of a bonding that will not be evident in other Chicago Bulls websites. It will be the start of the new era of Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for Chicago Bulls, news, previews and reviews. We are going to be the renegade Chicago Bulls website where not only myself and the writers have a say in what is going on concerning the Bulls, but you, the Pippen Peoples will as well. Your comments not only will be welcomed, but will drive this website.
I think the evolution started with an article I wrote after the Bulls were eliminated by the Washington Wizards last April. The article was named “Tom Thibodeau: Will He Go? More Importantly, Should He Go?” I wrote this article around the time the rumors that were flying that he was leaving for teams such as the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers. We all knew at the time that Thibodeau wasn’t leaving based on that iron-clad contract the Bulls have on Thibodeau. That article was based on the absolutely pathetic coaching job Thibodeau did in that first round loss to Washington.
I said nothing then, that I would not say now. He was bad with substitution patterns. He didn’t use his bench at all which drove the six players that he did use into the ground. The Carlos Boozer/Taj Gibson minutes saga bit the team in the butt. By the time Game five rolled around, the Chicago Bulls could not score. Literally, figuratively and mathematically. What professional NBA team can say proudly that they scored 69 points at home in an elimination game? I’ll wait.
Boy, that opened up a can of worms. check out some of the comments.
"The cool thing Ronald my man, is that you dispelled the myth that all black people know basketball. Now if we can just get you to write articles about Chicken, Rap Music and the benefits Tea Party…There would be harmony in the streets."
Believe it or not, that comment was two weeks before the Donald Sterling fiasco. I’ll bet Bruce Levenson and Danny Ferry would be rolling over in their graves right now if they read this comment.
Check out this comment, at least it doesn’t take us back to the 1960’s.
"Ronald,My man, I don’t know if you write what you believe or write to get attention? I am just astonished at how you write some things you know will get someone harping at you about what you have written…Everyone has their opinion about players, coaches and management. I am sure you can point out many things that you feel make him a bad coach and I am sure many NBA GM’s won’t believe a word you say if Thibs were on the market. He would not last 24 hours. So good luck on this one."
Well Pippen Peoples, let me tell you a secret. I stewed over these two comments all summer long. The first one for obvious reasons, but the second one as well. It seemed that I was alone in my criticisms of Tom Thibodeau. It was almost like he could do no wrong.
Until now.
The one excuse that Chicago Bulls fans used to throw all the time about Thibodeau running players into the ground was that he had nobody on the bench. Well those days have now changed.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, I’m not alone in my sentiment that Thibodeau has a per minute schedule for some players that probably would break Illinois labor laws. Because he wouldn’t be quoted as saying this…
"“Hey I’m going to coach, I’m going to coach my way, and whatever happens, happens,” Thibodeau said. “You do whatever you have to do to win, and that’s the way I look at it.”"
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oh really? Do you mean the postseason? You haven’t won that. Let’s be clear here. If it wasn’t for Jimmy Butler willing to be put on the news for getting knocked out by Nene in Game three in the first round last year (sorry Jimmy, you’re my favorite Bulls player, but Nene would have dragged you back to Washington behind his team bus for Game five.), the Bulls would have been swept. But let’s take a closer look at the inept postseason record of the Bulls as of late. Pay attention this is going to go kind of fast.
May 15, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Nate Robinson (2) shoots over Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers (15) in the first half in game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bulls have lost seven of their last eight postseason games. (Editor’s note: If it wasn’t for Nate Robinson going nuts, they would have lost all of them.)
The Chicago Bulls have lost six straight postseason games at home.
The Chicago Bulls have lost three of their last four playoff series. (Editor’s note: If it wasn’t for Nate Robinson going nuts, they would have lost all of them. See a trend here?)
If Tom Thibodeau is cool with what he is doing, why is he so sensitive? Especially about how he figures out the minutes his players play…
"“What gets lost sometimes is there are several ways you can pace your team,” Thibodeau said. “People think it’s just minutes. No. How much contact do you have in practice? And then you have a lot of people trying to evaluate what you’re trying to do in practice, and they don’t know what a warmup drill is and what an actual contract drill is.”“I’ve been doing this a long time. I understand about pacing a team. I also understand about giving guys days off.”"
Practice? Practice? We talking about practice man! Not a game, not a game. We talking about…practice man! Oh uh, I’m writing an article? Sorry about my Iverson rant, but we are talking about practice. What’s getting lost is how your starting point guard Derrick Rose, and center, Joakim Noah are recovering from knee injuries. What’s getting lost is Jimmy Butler has a groin injury that kept him off the U.S. Select team. What’s getting lost is that the Bulls front office has given you players that you can use so these guys don’t have to play 40 minutes a night. It’s not necessary.
By the way, the plane ride to the next city doesn’t count as resting players. Furthermore, when was the last time Tom Thibodeau given any player the night off? There’s a comment section below so anyone can tell me. They are welcome…and needed. Maybe it will remind Tom Thibodeau what it felt like.
As for those rookies.
As we all know Pippen Peoples, your coach Tom Thibodeau historically does not play rookies. He rolls with the guys he trusts which is the starting five, Taj Gibson and Luol Deng. Here’s the problem, Deng plays in Miami. Take a long look at the Chicago Bulls roster, who shoots better than the rookies, Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic?
I’ll wait.
On media day, last Monday, Thibodeau has already let it be known how much burn the Chicago Bulls rookies will get this season.
Check out what K.C. Johnson says on Twitter…
"K.C. Johnson@KCJHoopThibodeau said you don’t see championship teams with 2 rookies in the rotation. On Mirotic, McDermott: “There will be a period of adjustment.”"
Mar 23, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward Doug McDermott (3) shoots over Baylor Bears guard Kenny Chery (1) during the game in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
So let me get this straight, you have two guys that can shoot the ball from outside, but they both will be sitting the bench. Why did you draft Doug McDermott again? Oh for the defensive schemes that the Bulls use right? The Bulls defense gave up 75 points in the season finale last year…AND LOST! Does that make any sense to anybody? Before anyone gets started on this defensive scheme arguments, stop. It didn’t work last year and it won’t work this year. Last I heard, Cleveland and Miami have players that can score from time to time. The Bulls haven’t shown that ability yet. How many first round exits do you want your squad to endure arguing with me? Let me know in the comments section.
I’m torn Pippen Peoples, I’m torn. I love being right. It’s a beautiful thing. What’s more, if Thibodeau continues on this path, I will be right…again and I get to stick it to the two guys that left those comments. On the other hand, this is a Chicago Bulls website and there are very knowledgeable fans out there that deserve to see their team make a deep run in the playoffs. Personally, for that to happen the team has to be run correctly, somehow I don’t see it yet.
Only a few weeks left until the regular season. Keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy for all the in-depth analysis on all things Chicago Bulls. It’s going to be a long ride Pippen Peoples, let Pippen Ain’t Easy be your co-pilot.
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