Orlando Magic: Tom Thibodeau Over Scott Brooks?

Although we’ve spoken here before about the possibility of the Orlando Magic hiring Scott Brooks, there is another coach out there who may be able to help this team in a different way. That guy is Tom Thibodeau, the current head coach of the Chicago Bulls. If speculation is to be believed, his days are numbered with that franchise, regardless of how well they do in this year’s playoffs.

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Should that happen, Orlando may find itself with a choice to make. That is picking Brooks and his experience managing superstars deep into the postseason. Or siding with Thibodeau, a guy who has overachieved with his injury-plagued roster in recent years and gets his team to play defense every night. Not such a simple choice is it?

It’s somewhat ironic as well, that the Magic find themselves with this potential dilemma. We say this because, as a rebuilding team, they would never be spoiled for choice in the star player department. Just getting one to come and play in Orlando in the next two years would be a massive success, never mind two.

But the Magic are viewed by many as a roster brimming with young talent and ready to be taken to the next level. Coaches gravitate towards that kind of team. There is great opportunity for a coach to come in here and make their mark, pushing the team forward.

So what does Thibodeau have that Brooks doesn’t and why should he be the lead candidate if and when the Bulls let him go? It’s a well known fact that Thibodeau gets his entire team to buy into defending as a unit. That’s been his trademark with Chicago pretty much since the day he took over there.

While that’s great, it becomes even more appealing when you transplant that style of coaching into this Orlando team.

In Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo, Orlando boasts two backcourt players who already are above-average defenders. Oladipo is verging on being a star at that end, and while it’s too early to label Payton a defensive savant, all signs point toward that being the case someday soon.

With Thibs working with those guys, there’s no question they could become the best defensive backcourt in the entire league in as little as three years.

Center Nikola Vucevic is another guy who could benefit hugely from the arrival of Thibodeau. While he’s made small improvements as a rim protector, he just may never be that guy, so Orlando may have to plan accordingly for that. Thibodeau could help Vucevic on that end a bit, but he’s not a miracle worker. Ultimately it’s on Vucevic to become a better player defensively.

Where Vucevic could really prosper however, is on the offensive end. Vucevic led the team in points per game during the regular season (19.3) and was a force some nights on that end. His array of moves continues to grow, and he’s got the footwork and passing ability out of the block to really open up the court for his team.

Thibodeau you may remember, was so stuck for offensive options at one point in Chicago he allowed center Joakim Noah to essentially run the offense at times.

Noah brought the ball up court on occasions, and really was the focal point of their attacking play for a good stretch two seasons ago. Vucevic has the footwork and ball handling to rival Noah (Although I’m not going so far as to let him dribble the ball up court). He’s been an offensive force for this team because he’s had to be, although Tobias Harris stepped up admirably this year.

But with Thibodeau trusting him and creating Noah like plays for him, he could become an All-Star.

But while this all sounds good in theory, a big concern still needs to be addressed. You see, for all of Chicago’s supposed defensive brilliance, they actually slipped considerably on that end this year. In fact, they ranked 11th in defensive efficiency (101.5).

Now, some of that was personnel issues, as the likes of Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose, both key contributors, are not the players they once were because of age and injury respectively. Still though it’s a red flag and cause for concern.

You might think the players maybe gave up on that end, but according to multiple reports, it’s the ownership who have a problem with Thibodeau. The players on the other hand are still right behind him. So to see the defense, his calling card, slip in that way, is worth noting. Also worth pointing out, you can never have enough of this on your sidelines on a nightly basis.

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Brooks on the other hand we’ve covered here, and of course he has his detesters as well. Many feel he rode the coattails of two superstars (Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant) for too long, rather than actively trying to make the team better. I’m not so sure I buy into that.

Thibodeau on the other hand has crafted working rosters together time after time despite injury setbacks, and they are always competitive, especially in the postseason. This year is different as they currently have a healthy roster peaking at the right time, but they have still allowed fewest points per game since the playoffs began.

One final note, and it’s a small one but worth mentioning, Thibodeau’s ability to get the most out of bench players. This season Aaron Brooks has been their redemption story (Although he cooled heading into the postseason with Rose back) while last year it was D.J. Augustin.

In the past, he’s used the likes of Taj Gibson, Nate Robinson and even Kyle Korver in ways that made their second unit stronger. Orlando doesn’t have much of a bench right now, but you can bet Thibodeau would be able to craft one.

Look, the fact we’re having this conversation at all is encouraging. Many head coach positions are filled in the league right now, and Orlando appears to be one with plenty of upside. A young core, modest expectancy (making the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference) and a general manager who seems to have his head screwed on.

Living in Orlando sure wouldn’t suck either (I keep imaging Billy Donovan, now coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, telling his wife he’s leaving the Florida Gators to go coach in Oklahoma and her reaction at having to move home), it’s got to be a really nice place to call home. So, unlike the free agents Orlando will have to scrap for, finding a quality head coach should be much easier.

Looking at all the candidates, Tom Thibodeau would make sense for a ton of reasons too.

Next: The Biggest X-Factor On Every NBA Playoff Team

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