Somewhere on the East Coast Tom Thibodeau was probably smiling.
Well, make that smirking. It is Thibs after all.
With the NBA releasing the full 2023-24 regular-season schedule on Thursday, one couldn’t help noticing the finale for the Bulls.
“April 14 at New York.’’
Thibodeau’s former team better hope it’s a meaningless game.
Before coaching the Timberwolves and now the Knicks, Thibodeau was the second-most successful coach in Bulls history, restoring some pride to the organization in his five-year tenure.
His firing after the 2014-15 season was not only controversial, but also a major misstep by the former Bulls regime. And while Thibodeau likes to downplay what the meetings with the Bulls mean to him since his dismissal, the numbers don’t lie.
In 16 showdowns since 2015, Thibodeau-coached teams have an 11-5 record against the Bulls.
No big deal? Well, it’s not just the season finale that could carry weight. The Bulls actually will face Thibodeau and the Knicks three times in their final six games.
The reality of the situation is Thibodeau could be the difference between the Bulls locking into a first-round playoff series or having to go the play-in route.
Here are the five key games not against Thibodeau and the Knicks:
Oct. 25, Thunder at Bulls - — How can the first game of an 82-game season carry weight? The Thunder are not only Billy Donovan’s former team, but also have an up-and-coming roster that could be a very daunting early-season measuring stick for the Bulls.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a star, while backcourt-mate Josh Giddey isn’t far behind. Then factor in what could be the NBA debut of 2022 first-round pick Chet Holmgren, and this isn’t the usual ease-into-the-season game.
Dec. 14, Bulls at Heat — Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas hasn’t forgotten that the Bulls were three minutes away from eliminating Jimmy Butler and the Heat from a playoff appearance.
The Bulls and Heat will see a lot of each other this season, and in playoff fashion. The NBA started scheduling teams against each other in back-to-backs a few years back, and Bulls-Heat will do it twice. The teams will play in Chicago on Nov. 18 and 20 and then in Miami on Dec. 14 and 16.
Dec. 20, Lakers at Bulls —
LeBron in the house. Enough said.
Jan. 22, Bulls at Suns — The last time the Bulls ventured into the Valley of the Sun, it was a complete embarrassment. Devin Booker cooked them for 51 points and did so in just three quarters in a 132-113 blowout.
Phoenix could be a major problem for teams this season, adding Bradley Beal to go along with Booker and Kevin Durant, and it’s a game that starts a three-game West Coast trip that also includes a trip to L.A. to face the Lakers and then Portland.
April 1, Hawks at Bulls — It’s only the Hawks, you say? Well, Bulls-Atlanta met four times last season, and the first three were epic finishes. On paper, the two are very similar organizations, hoping for greatness but coming up closer to very mediocre.
This late-season showdown could be another barnburner.
