Tom Thibodeau: Should the Chicago Bulls Coach Win Coach of the Year Again?

Last season, the Bulls finished with the best record in the NBA, and they became only the 12th duo in NBA history to win both the Coach of the Year and the Most Valuable Player award. Thibodeau won the award after leading the Bulls to 62 wins, the most wins for a first-year head coach in the history of the NBA. With the win against Orlando last week, Thibs became the quickest coach to 100 wins in the history of the NBA, taking only 130 games to accomplish this feat.

Thibs led his teams to victory with the combination of preparation, motivation, and above all, defense. The Bulls last season were second in the NBA in points per game allowed, and tops in the league in field goal percentage allowed and defensive efficiency. Thibodeau accomplished this feat despite having only one player who made the All-Defensive Second Team. 

In NBA history, there has not been a coach who has won back-to-back Coach of the Year awards. There have been multiple coaches that have won the award multiple times, but none have been consecutive. Could Tom Thibodeau be the first? 

At this point, you have to put Thibodeau as the favorite to win Coach of the Year. There is an argument that Thibodeau has been even better this season than last! The Bulls are near the top of the league in every defensive metric, the same as last year. However this year, the Bulls are also top four in OFFENSIVE efficiency! I haven't even mentioned that the Bulls have maintained the top overall record in the NBA thus far at 39-10 as of Thursday. 

Not only that, but Coach Thibodeau has accomplished all of these feats with a starting lineup that has played less than 10 games together. Last year's MVP Derrick Rose has missed 15 games, which is nearing a quarter of this shortened season. Luol Deng has missed nine games so far. That doesn't even count Richard Hamilton, who has only played in 16 games this year! And the Bulls still have the best record in the league. 

For his incredible work of keeping the team on top despite not having his talent, Thibs deserves Coach of the Year. It remains to be seen if he can maintain the team's performance in the playoffs, but for now, Thibs has been the best coach in the NBA, bar none.