Tom Thibodeau has been frequently mentioned as a candidate for the Denver Nuggets’ current head coaching vacancy, even before he was released from his duties as Chicago Bulls head coach. His release on Thursday now catapults his name to the top of the list of possible replacements for Brian Shaw.
But is Thibodeau a good fit in Denver? And would he entertain the job?
Denver has already received the cold-shoulder from Scott Brooks, who also turned down the opportunity to interview with New Orleans. The same could be coming from Thibodeau.
Thibodeau spent five seasons at the helm in Chicago, leading the team to postseason berths each year and compiling a .647 winning percentage during that stretch. But his lack of playoff success – a .451 winning percentage and only one Eastern Conference Finals appearance (in his first year) – coupled with what Chicago Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf called a “departure” from the Bulls’ organizational culture.
In a press release, Reinsdorf specifically pointed out his concern that interdepartmental discussions about the team’s goals are expected to remain internal and that trust among the leaders of those departments must exist in order for a team to succeed. To paraphrase, Reinsdorf acted because Thibodeau was no longer on the same page with the rest of the Bulls’ leadership.
In Denver, Shaw, GM Tim Connelly and owner Josh Kronke always claimed to be on the same page as they attempted to transform the Nuggets from a run-you-out-of-the-gym mentality to one that can win in the half-court game. But over the span of Shaw’s nearly two years at the helm, key personnel remained mostly unchanged and the players eventually turned on Shaw, as Michael Lee of the Washington Post put it, like the coach was a “substitute teacher.”
So what would be any different with Thibodeau, who has been accused of overworking and not relating to his players?
Reports are that Thibodeau scored poorly with some Bulls players during exit interviews, so much to the point that some players planned offseason workouts away from the team facility just to avoid him.
As LeBron James made unfortunately clear for his head coach, David Blatt, the NBA is a player-driven league now more than ever. As the Nuggets saw firsthand, a coach that cannot find a way to coax the best out of his players is doomed to failure. Thibodeau’s grind-it-out mentality (not to mention the sheer talent on his roster) was enough to get the Bulls to the playoffs each year, but clearly management felt the team was on a dangerous precipice, despite a 3rd place finish in the Eastern Conference.
The Nuggets lack a legitimate superstar like Chicago has in Derek Rose. Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried and Danilo Gallinari are the closest Denver has, and even they fall short of measuring up to the Bulls’ other stars, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol. If Lawson and company revolted against Shaw, there’s little chance that Thibodeau and his similar disciplinary style will be well-received at Pepsi Center unless the Nuggets’ core is willing to take a big bite of humble pie.
Without a major shakeup of the roster, Thibodeau may look at Denver as being Chicago minus the superstar and decline an interview entriely, just like Brooks did.
Thibodeau may have the mentality that Connelly and Kroenke want in a head coach, but Shaw already proved that approach doesn’t play with the Nuggets current roster.