Bulls: Picking Up the Pieces After a Devastating Game 4 Loss

Apr 30, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Chicago won 120-66. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

But the biggest thing the Bulls are going to need to overcome are nerves. You could just sense how tense the team and crowd were when the Bulls had that lead during the fourth quarter. It seemed like a situation where everyone was thinking about how they have been waiting for this moment for four years instead of the actual game itself. The players were clearly sidetracked by the idea they would be up 3-1 against their only real obstacle on the way to the Finals.

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And distractions like that are when a head coach needs to step in. Was Phil Jackson ever a great play caller or strategist? No. He was the best in the world at helping players mentally close out big games. The same thing has happened to Golden State and Steve Kerr. Whenever they do the audio feed on Kerr during a huddle, you never hear about strategies the Warriors need to change. It’s always mental things like “Keep putting pressure on them they are scared of us at our best” or “This game is a test for us. If we play to our level we know we can win.”

I don’t think Tom Thibodeau puts a lot of thought into that part of the game. He is the best in the NBA at all the strategy stuff, but I’ve watched closely this playoffs and Thibodeau always gives the “Play hard and together” speeches in the huddle. With the Bulls it is always all-out effort. Thibodeau never addresses the mental side of closing out important playoff games. When you are growing up playing basketball you always hear how the sport is something like 15% physical and 85% mental. If that is the case, why don’t all coaches have in game instruction similar to Kerr and Jackson?

It seems like every article written about the Bulls this year is bashing Thibodeau’s coaching style, and I feel bad criticizing a guy who has been so successful. I mean the best you can do in the NBA, or any sport, is be one of the five or so teams at the end that has a chance at the title. From there, any injury, bounce, or choked away game can change everything. The Bulls are one of those teams this year and all the credit goes to the guy who has been coaching under bosses who seem to want no part in him. And if a couple bounces went the other way on Sunday and the Bulls won the game, no one would have even thought about this kind of stuff.

I guess we have gotten to the point in the Bulls season where every loss or win is a conclusion jump. Right now my conclusion is Thibodeau needs to do a better job preparing the players to play more freely in close, big games.

There is at least going to be two more of those this postseason.

And hopefully a few more after that.

Next: Harsh Reality Is Looming for Chicago Bulls in Playoffs

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