Close Article Return to stream X
NBA •

Top 5 People Responsible For Tom Thibodeau’s Departure From Chicago Bulls

+Read full article
Getty Images

5 People Responsible For Tom Thibodeau's Departure

Tom Thibodeau Bulls
Getty Images

Today, the Chicago Bulls cut ties with former coach Tom Thibodeau despite having one of the best records in NBA history. There are plenty of people to blame for Chicago's failures, but these five should be held responsible most.

5. Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose Bulls
Getty Images

5. Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose Bulls
Getty Images

Chicago's best player didn't even play in half the games that Thibodeau coached in. Rose's hesitance to come back from his torn ACL put Thibodeau in a bind that he could never solve.

4. Tom Thibodeau

Tom Thibodeau Bulls
Getty Images

4. Tom Thibodeau

Tom Thibodeau Bulls
Getty Images

The victim of this case doesn't totally get a pass here. Thibodeau's tough no-nonsense approach rubbed players the wrong way, and his teams faded down the stretch because they played extended minutes during the regular season.

3. Jerry Reinsdorf

Jerry Reinsdorf Bulls
Getty Images

3. Jerry Reinsdorf

Jerry Reinsdorf Bulls
Getty Images

Given by his shrewd press release today, Reinsdorf clearly wasn't a fan of Thibodeau's. Given Reinsdorf's past with Vinny Del Negro, Phil Jackson and Scott Skiles, it's easy to see that some of the problems started at the top.

2. Gar Forman

Gar Forman Bulls
Getty Images

2. Gar Forman

Gar Forman Bulls
Getty Images

Chicago GM Gar Forman's relationship with Thibodeau soured so fast that the damage was beyond repair. Forman fired Thibodeau's top assistant, Ron Adams.

1. John Paxson

John Paxson Bulls
Getty Images

1. John Paxson

John Paxson Bulls
Getty Images

Paxson, the Bulls' president, has rubbed many current and former coaches the wrong way. Since taking over in 2003, Paxson has fired four different coaches, and hasn't gotten the Bulls past the Eastern Conference Finals. In 2010, Paxson and Del Negro got into a shouting match that resulted in Paxson grabbing Del Negro and shoving him. The real problem is Paxson, not Thibodeau.

Brian Kalchik is a Houston Texans writer and featured writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

Brian Kalchik is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
Your Favorites
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
NBA• Videos•

Watch Bulls Get Whistled For 5-Second Call Because Of Drake

The Toronto Raptors were down by three points with 25 seconds remaining and the Chicago Bulls were taking the ball out of bounds. It happened to be right in front of Drake who is the Raptors' biggest fan. Drake proceeded to talk trash into Justin Holiday's ear while he tried to get the ball in-bounds, and it distracted Holiday enough to get a crucial five-second call against the Bulls. This is my favorite Drake moment of all time.

Comment 0 Comments
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
NBA• Videos•

Bulls' Doug McDermott Proves White Men Can Jump

With Jimmy Butler out, Doug McDermott is getting more run than he normally would for the Chicago Bulls. While the verdict is still out on the former Creighton standout, this epic dunk in which he proved white men can jump against the Atlanta Hawks was the perfect way to showcase his otherworldly athleticism.

Comment 0 Comments
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
NBA• Videos•

Watch LeBron James, Cavaliers Show Off Handshake Game During Win

The Cleveland Cavaliers steamrolled the banged-up Chicago Bulls on Thursday evening, and when LeBron James and the rest of the team's starters were taken out of the game late in the fourth quarter, they busted out a series of handshakes as if they had just won the lottery. It was an interesting scene, if nothing else.

Comment 0 Comments