Imrem: Crisis point for Bulls, Thibodeau
The Bulls and Tom Thibodeau sure slumped to a crisis point quickly.
Their December record was 13-2. Now they have lost six of their last eight games.
On paper and in the standings, the Bulls' 27-16 record isn't too shabby. In reality, they have gone from cofavorite in the NBA East to wondering what's happened to them.
At Christmas, Jimmy Butler was the league's most improved player. Now he's more like a good defense-little offense player again.
On New Year's Eve, Pau Gasol looked like the league's best off-season acquisition. Now his defense is questioned and so is his intent to preserve his 34-year-old body.
On New Year's Eve, the hope was that Joakim Noah would hold up physically all season. Now his ailing feet and surgical knee have him back in street clothes.
On New Year's Eve, the hope was that Derrick Rose would regain his MVP form. Now it's hard to tell what he'll be from game to game.
Then there is the most problematic then-and-now of all: Tom Thibodeau.
On New Year's Eve, the Bulls' head coach was living up to his reputation as one of the NBA's best coaches. Now the murmurs are that he won't survive the season in Chicago.
National NBA reporter Chris Sheridan wrote Tuesday on his website that Thibodeau has lost the Bulls' locker room.
If true, this wouldn't be surprising. Thibodeau long has been considered one of the coaches who would burn out players sooner than later.
It's the reason that Thibodeau had to wait so long to become a head coach. It explains his reputation for being impossible to deal with.
No wonder reports persist that Thibodeau's relationship with Bulls management - actually with many in the organization - is strained.
The Bulls kept winning, though. They overcame injuries to Rose, Noah and others to make the playoffs in each of Thibodeau's first four seasons.
Winning is a cure-all, right? Thibodeau was bearable because the Bulls kept winning, right?
The players clearly liked being successful. They were OK with Thibodeau's driving nature because he improved them individually and collectively.
The impression always was that Thibodeau's style and system worked because they kept the Bulls' in contention for some title or other - the division, the conference, even the league.
Executive vice president John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman had no choice but to re-up Thibodeau because he maximized the roster they built.
However, the curiosity always was what would happen if the Bulls started losing.
Perhaps for the first time during Thibodeau's five years as Bulls head coach, the question is relevant.
The dots are being connected: The Bulls are struggling … players are playing and sounding beaten down … whether Thibodeau will survive suddenly is an issue.
The Bulls' upcoming schedule is difficult, starting with Thursday night against San Antonio in the United Center.
As usual in the NBA, the future will be decided by players generally and star players specifically.
Thibodeau always has had Rose and Noah buy into his methods, albeit grudgingly at times. Maybe giving them a day off Tuesday is a step in keeping them on his side.
It would be a shame if the Bulls lost an outstanding coach like Thibodeau, but stuff does happen.
Man, the Bulls' crisis point really did arrive in fastbreak fashion, and now Tom Thibodeau has to find a way to keep it from reaching a breaking point.
mimrem@dailyherald.com