“Very happy for him,’’ Bulls center Joakim Noah said yesterday. “Very well-deserving. Coach is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. He stays in late. He’s the first one here. He was there for me all summer working me out. I felt like I really improved as a player because of him.’’
Thibodeau received 475 points and 76 first-place votes from a media panel. Philadelphia’s Doug Collins got 18 first-place votes and 210 points, and Gregg Popovich of San Antonio finished third.
An NBA assistant for about two decades, Thibodeau finally got his chance to lead a team after spending three seasons working for Doc Rivers in Boston. He replaced the fired Vinny Del Negro in June, and with a rebuilt roster and an emphasis on defense, the Bulls breezed to a 62-20 mark that matched their best record since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen completed their second championship three-peat at the end of the 1997-98 season.
They did all that even though prized acquisition Carlos Boozer and Noah missed significant time with injuries, capturing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and giving their coach a share of the record Westphal set with Phoenix during the 1992-93 season.
Thibodeau was known as a defensive mastermind who helped the Celtics win a championship in 2008 and get back to the Finals last season.
Thibodeau’s only other head coaching job was for one season at his alma mater, Division 3 Salem State, in the mid-1980s. He got that after three years as an assistant.
Bulls’ Rose excused Bulls star Derrick Rose missed practice to tend to a family matter, while Boozer participated on a limited basis. Rose’s absence was excused. Boozer is recovering from turf toe on his right foot that surfaced during Game 5 of the Bulls’ opening-round series against Indiana. He sat out practice Friday and Saturday … Atlanta’s Kirk Hinrich will likely miss the entire series against Chicago after severely straining his hamstring in the closing minutes of the Hawks’ series-clinching win over Orlando. “He does look like he’s walking better than he did the other night,’’ coach Larry Drew said. Hinrich’s injury left Atlanta looking for a point guard who could slow Rose. Jeff Teague figures to get the shot.
