Boozer big on Thibodeau’s approach
Besides Derrick Rose’s ascension to superstar status, another obvious reason for the Bulls’ success is they made a smart choice by hiring coach Tom Thibodeau.
Veteran forward Carlos Boozer was asked about Thibodeau after Wednesday’s practice, and he proceeded to pile on the praise.
“He’s as consistent a coach that I’ve had, and I’ve had some pretty good ones in my day,” Boozer said. “Every day focused on the grind; always has the big picture in mind. He’s a leader like that. You need a guy that always has the big picture in mind.
“You can have some slippage here or there and he gets on us. So we’re like, ‘Why are you getting on us?’ (He answers,) ‘Because I want one of those (points to championship banners).’ It’s a good to have a leader like him who has the big picture in mind and is always focused.”
Boozer’s previous coaches included Mike Krzyzewski at Duke and Jerry Sloan in Utah, so he has some strong comparisons available.
“Him, Coach K, Jerry Sloan — they’re all very similar,” Boozer continued. “They all have a huge passion to win. They have a plan in mind. They have a system they believe in, and they’re great motivators. They find ways to get their guys on the same page.
“We have a lot of guys from different places, guys who have been in the league a long time, guys that haven’t been in the league that long, different backgrounds, whatever you want to say, and we’re all on the same page every night.
“It’s not easy to do when you’ve got grown men to deal with, so you’ve got to give coach a lot of credit.”
One question that’s tougher to answer is why it took Thibodeau so long to get a head-coaching job. He spent 20 years as an NBA assistant. The Bulls even passed on hiring him in 2008.
“I don’t think it was by accident,” Boozer suggested. “I think he probably had a lot of opportunities to coach before he took this job. I think he was waiting for the right timing to take it. This is the right job for him. I’m just happy I’m playing for him.”
Watson brings Vegas to Chicago:
C.J. Watson is hosting a “Vegas Night” fundraiser this weekend to benefit three Chicago Public Schools.
It’s an appropriate theme for Watson, who grew up in Las Vegas. He and his friends never spent much time near the casinos, though.
“When you’re from there and you live there, you don’t really go to the Strip a lot,” Watson said. “You go there sometimes to eat and stuff like that, hang out at the different amusement parks and arcades.
“But as children we never really went there because they’re really strict on kids being on the Strip by themselves.”
Watson’s fundraiser is Sunday night at the Chicago Cultural Center. For more information, visit quietstormfoundation.com.
Bull horns:
During the month of January, Derrick Rose has averaged 8.2 free-throw attempts per game and is shooting 87.9 percent at the foul line. … Carlos Boozer on the nickname of teammate Kurt Thomas: “I’m not comfortable calling another man ‘Big Sexy.’ I just can’t do it. I call him Kurt Thomas, OG. I can’t call him ‘Big Sexy.’ That’s for his wife to do.”