Chicago Bulls: Could Derrick Rose and Tom Thibodeau Sweep Postseason Awards?
Lately, there hasn't been much argument about whether the Chicago Bulls have surpassed expectations, because they most certainly have.The question is, who deserves the most credit, Head Coach Tom Thibodeau or MVP front runner Derrick Rose?
In fact, with tonight's loss by the Boston Celtics, the Bulls are dead even with Boston for the top seed. Now, if the NBA's best home team can beat the Washington Wizards, the NBA's worst road team tomorrow night at the United Center the Bulls will stand alone at the top of the Eastern Conference.
It's beginning to look like more than optimistic speculation, but a realistic possibility, that the Bulls could finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls play fewer winning teams on the remainder of the season. Additionally, the remaining game between the teams is in Chicago. The Bulls no longer have to catch Boston, they merely need to keep pace with them and win that game at the United Center.
This entire argument is predicated on one thing, that Chicago clinches the top seed. Let's just say that right now, that is a very realistic possibility, though it's not a done deal.
If they do win the top seed, though, should both candidates receive the relevant awards? It's a long way from unprecedented. In fact, it would be the 12th time the MVP and the Coach of the year came from the same team.
Red Aurabach and Bill Russell were the first tandem to do it in 1964-65. Most recently, Mike Brown and LeBron James both won the award in 2008-09.
In all, there have been only three times though where the convergence of having the Coach of the year and the MVP on the same team resulted in an NBA champion. The first was the Russell/Auerbach tandem previously mentioned. The second was Red Holzman winning Coach of the Year and Willis Reed winning MVP for the Knicks in 1969-70.
The third and most recent time, it was the Bulls, when Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson swept the award in 1995-96. You might remember that team as they were kind of successful. One thing that's sort of interesting is that twice, the team that lost in the finals was the Lakers.
So what do you think? If the Bulls win the East, will they sweep the two awards?
