If you sketched out a model for an ideal NBA franchise, it might look something like this:
A savvy front office that consistently discovers and acquires talented, high-character players;
A coach who maximizes the skills of these players, from the All-Stars down to the 12th man;
A core group of players that fits the coach's philosophy, executes his schemes and adapts to his methods.
There are other factors, of course—a generous owner, a smart medical staff, state-of-the-art training facilities—but start with the above three. For the last five years, the Chicago Bulls had it all.
Team executives John Paxson and Gar Forman found hidden gems in the draft—Taj Gibson in 2009 (26th pick), Jimmy Butler in 2011 (30th)—and stocked the roster with capable veterans, from Kurt Thomas to Kyle Korver to Nate Robinson to Pau Gasol.
The supporting cast ebbed and flowed, but coach Tom Thibodeau consistently molded the Bulls into an elite defensive unit and a high-level playoff team. The Bulls reflected their coach's best attributes—committed, tenacious, intensely focused.
Thibodeau was demanding, a ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Howard Beck
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