Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 at 12:01 pm  |  16 responses

Joakim Noah: Coach Thibodeau ‘Doesn’t Understand the Whole Rest Thing’


Joakim Noah may be the Chicago Bulls’ primary source of energy and aggression, but even guys like that need a rest, sometimes. According to Noah, though, Head Coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t exactly see things that way. Per Bulls.com: “The Brooklyn Nets are supposed to be good. They have the NBA’s second highest payroll and are committed to the biggest for next season. They have four current and former All-Stars in their starting lineup. And Saturday at the United Center the Bulls absolutely dominated them in a 96-85 dismantling that included a paralyzing 19-0 run. So just how good are the Bulls? And what chance do they have in the Eastern Conference as they moved to 34-25, tied for fourth with Atlanta and three games behind the Indiana Pacers, whom the Bulls visit Sunday night. … It’s not like the players have an issue or complain. But they are asked and there’s usually a grin and a shrug and usually the most forthright response from Noah. ‘What do you want me to say? Yeah, I’m tired, pretty tired,’ Noah offered with a shrug. ‘Working on (his plantar fasciitis) every day, massages, lots of treatments, doing everything possible to keep it under control. It’s not really right after the game (you feel tired). It’s the next morning that’s the roughest.’ ‘We’ve got a great coach,’ Noah said as he began to smile and let out a laugh and you know one of those subtle, understated zingers was coming. ‘But he doesn’t understand the whole rest thing yet I don’t think. But it’s all good. We all want to win. It’s good.’”

(H/T: PBT)

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  • Guest

    He does he just wants you to rest after you get the W.

  • KoloradoKobe

    Noah and Deng are playing crazy minutes this year. I know both of them are good soldiers who’ll play through anything, but I’m not sure if Thibs isn’t going to regret that come playoff time.

  • Redd

    He doesn’t.

  • Redd

    Thibs is beginning to show his big flaw..his stubbornness. I was pissed as hell he kept guys in after PJ subbed his guys out. We won the game, up 16, yet Thibs showed he’s an egomaniac by keeping his guys in.

    He did it to Taj & he got hurt. Thibs is starting to annoy me.

  • http://www.facebook.com/rainman1991 Saleem Rainman

    he did it to D-Rose and he lost a season and you guys instantly lost that series…

    I Called him out on it at the time. That game was outta reach, Bulls won. I dont buy the whole “he needed to get in rhythm” thing. You dont risk your players like that, period. And he caught NO flak for his clear lacking in judgement after it cost the Bulls the series.

  • spit hot fiyah

    so he is the anti-popovic

  • the man

    at least they be winning

  • i_ball

    That’s wht Pop is the man even though it cost the team 1/4 million dollars

  • http://www.facebook.com/rainman1991 Saleem Rainman

    This is why i’d any day rather play for coach Pop over Thibs. Not only is he a better coach, but he’ll give you the rest when you need it.

  • Kev

    come playoff-time the bulls will need oxygen-masks on the court

  • pposse

    its flattery in itself that you compare Thibs to Pop.

  • Towelie

    Maybe Thibs needs to start listening to his playas!

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Sanchez

    sounds like thibs is on some bullsh*t

  • abe

    Everyone thinks Gregg popovich was resting his players all the time… then you just started watch basketball because when tim duncan was playing in the early 2000 he was playing 40+ min now that he’s older he is resting him… Michael Jordan Scottie Pippin where playing 40+ min in there 30…do you see tom thibodeau playing rip hamilton playing him 30+ min no because his older and need resting so … EVERYONE HATING ON TOM THIBODEAU FOR NO REASON… Derrick Rose got injured when the season was shortened because the NBA lockout and most games where back to back…….

  • Fat Lever

    I think there’s some mental games in there too with Pop. Like if his B-Team can hang with the opponents A-Team, then it makes the opponent question themselves. If they win outright? The icing on the cake.

  • some person

    You don’t see him playing Rip 30+ because he never plays Rip at all. He plays the Bulls best players, specifically their all-stars in Deng and Noah (and Rose when healthy) far too many minutes even when the game is out of hand.
    Derrick did get hurt because of the shortened season. He was also playing with a bunch of other little injuries in the game. The thing people are hating on Thibbs for is because there was no reason for Rose to be in the game at that point. They had already won.
    Now Rose also had no reason to be playing that aggressive, but he’s an aggressive and competitive player and Thibbs encourages the Bulls to play hard every second of every game.
    It’s not Thibbs fault Rose got injured, but his hands aren’t clean either…

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