Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks: Position-By-Position Preview For The Playoffs

Coaches: Tom Thibodeau vs Jason Kidd

Dec 22, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau on the bench prior the first quarter of a game against the Toronto Raptors at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The postseason is where the elite coaches shine and prove to the naysayers that coaching does actually matter in sports.

Although Thibodeau only has a playoff record of 17-22, we all know that he’s only had a full roster in one of the four years he’s been there. In his first year as a head coach, he led the Bulls to a 62-20 regular season record and 9-7 postseason record, ultimately getting eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals.

He has shown his ability to adjust during a series, even within a game, almost every year.

Let’s look back at Game 1 of Round 1 of the 2011 playoffs against the Indiana Pacers. The Bulls were down the entire game, facing a deficit of up to 10 points, and (with Thibodeau’s adjustments) they roared back to take the lead with 48.4 seconds remaining and would eventually win.

How about Game 4 of Round 1 of the 2013 playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets? That was when the Bulls were down an insurmountable amount with, maybe, half a quarter remaining in the game. They were down 14 points with under three minutes left in the game, to be specific. Nate Robinson had the game of his life, scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter alone, and lifted the Bulls to an unimaginable win. I have to include the video so we can all reminisce:

What Nate did was amazing, but none of that would have happened if Thibodeau didn’t make the call. He’s the one that called Robinson’s number on every possession at the end of the game. Thibs was frustrated with Robinson’s sporadic style all season but told him to play with that exact style during the most important moment of the season.

Oh and let’s not forget, he’s a former Coach of the Year.

Kidd started his coaching career last season with the Nets and led what many, unfairly, thought would be a true championship contender to the sixth best record in the Eastern Conference. He won the first-round series against the Raptors in seven games and eventually was eliminated in the second round by the Miami Heat in five games.

Although Kidd has done a marvelous job taking this young Bucks team into the playoffs in his first year there, his repertoire is no match for Thibs’. Thibodeau has done too much in his five years and, amazingly, will finally have a fully healthy roster in the postseason for the first time since Game 1 of Round 1 of the 2012 playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Advantage: Tom Thibodeau

The final verdict, if that’s what you want to call it, is that there is no other team the Bulls would want to play in the first round. Unfortunately, it’s not completely up to them; yes, they need to win their remaining games, but they also need the Raptors to lose at least one game. We’ll have to wait and see how it all unfolds.

Next: Bulls Will Have Playoff Disappointment

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