Evaluating 10 possible NBA landing spots for Tom Thibodeau in 2020-21
Houston Rockets
Defense doesn’t come to mind when the Houston Rockets are mentioned. It’s been a circulating joke around NBA Twitter with James Harden. But it’s also a byproduct of MoreyBall and the emphasis of pace and space on offense — which is the polar opposite of the traditional-minded Thibodeau.
Still, that’s what makes the Rockets such an intriguing option. Mike D’Antoni’s contract expires at season’s end, leaving the door open for a change with no contract in place. The second-oldest coach in the league is likely to be on a bench elsewhere, or not at all at 69 years old.
That leaves the door open for Thibodeau, who Berman mentioned as a Rockets target. But also Jeff Van Gundy is a candidate according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
Will the small-ball experiment continue?. light. rockets
The situation could be interesting if general manager Daryl Morey and Thibodeau agree to terms. The offense seems unlikely to change with Harden in the mix. Russell Westbrook is a solid point guard that isn’t a great shooter, so some of Thibodeau’s offensive philosophies could come in to play.
But the Rockets also traded away athletic center Clint Capela and gained Robert Covington as a result, essentially leaving the Rockets centerless. Pairing Covington with P.J. Tucker in the frontcourt created an intriguing experiment that hasn’t yet been played out due to the coronavirus pandemic. Though it does leave room for defensive versatility and could lead to a more aggressive defense.