Report: Tom Thibodeau and the New Orleans Pelicans show mutual interest

The New Orleans Pelicans are interested in former Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, and Thibodeau appears to be strongly interested in coaching there.

Even with the rocky finish to his tenure in Chicago, former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was always going to be a valuable candidate for a coaching position. No one this side of Stan Van Gundy is better in basketball at yelling at referees and players alike with forehead veins bulging.

It should come as no surprise that he has already drawn strong interest from Bayou Country.

Thibodeau-Pelicans update: both parties r showing interest in each other, I'm now told. Not 2 say coaching job is his, but things hv changed
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) May 30, 2015

Well, that was wonderfully vague. Things have changed from what? Could you maybe use a less intense word then change? Maybe the situation has been incrementally modified.

Regardless, Thibodeau looks like a perfect match for the Pelicans personnel.

The most exciting element of this potential marriage would be the pairing of Thibodeau with emerging star and NBA X-Man Anthony Davis. Thibs’ defensive sets would likely force penetrating opponents right into Davis, allowing for him to flash his skills as a rim protector and gather a load of rebounds. Thibodeau also encouraged passing from big men, and whatever ramshackle offense he decides to employ would likely run through Davis. Anthony Davis could see his numbers soar even higher than where they currently are in many categories.

Adding Thibodeau will only make the Pelicans better, but it may not make them great.

The major drawbacks for having Thibodeau as a coach were evident during his time in Chicago. He coached squads that were lethargic offensively, and overplayed his players during the regular season. To use military terms – because basketball is not a game for children, it is war – he had a knack for tactical reasoning, making the best moves to win the game ahead of him, but he did a poor time strategically, making moves with the scope of the entire season in mind.

That complaint was common enough that it might be overplayed, but the Pelicans should still be concerned. Unlike the Bulls teams that Thibodeau coached, they lack depth outside of Davis and a few strong contributors in Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson. This move may set back the development of Davis with overwork.

But it is a better move than grabbing someone like Scott Skiles. At least the Pelicans would be trying to commit to climbing in the Western Conference rather than accepting their place as a middle class NBA team.

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