Tom Thibodeau and Chicago Bulls front office staffers are promoting at least three of team's top players for defensive postseason honors, including All-Star center Joakim Noah for Defensive Player of the Year.
Just one of four Eastern Conference teams with a winning road record, the Bulls' defense appears to be in playoff form, ranking as the top team in the conference for fewest points allowed and second to Indiana in opponents' field goal percentage.
Tom Thibodeau leaving Derrick Rose?
According to ESPN, the Bulls unit, lead by Jimmy Butler and Kirk Hinrich, have ranked second, first (with a franchise-record 88.2 points per game), third and currently first in points allowed over Thibodeau's first four seasons in Chicago.
The worry among Bulls fans is how much longer can the good times last, as Thibodeau is rumored to be a potential target of the New York Knicks this summer as the team seeks to hire the first coach of the Phil Jackson era and Thibodeau's struggles with Bulls management remain pronounced.
"We practice defense all the time," Noah told ESPN of Thibodeau's way. "I mean, all the time." Added Butler "we don't give up on any plays. I can't say you find that everywhere around this league. Here, if a ball is going out of bounds, you're guaranteed to see a guy dive, jump over the fans and try to save that ball. We know hustle, defense and rebounding win games."
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