Thibodeau named NBA coach of year

Tom Thibodeau waited about two decades to become an NBA head coach. It didn’t take him long to be recognized as one of the best once he got the chance. Thibodeau is the NBA’s Coach of the Year after leading the Chicago Bulls to 62 wins in his first season to tie a league record set by Paul Westphal. The Chicago Tribune first reported Thibodeau’s selection, which was no surprise the way the Bulls dominated during the regular season. Now, after a tough five-game series against Indiana in the opening round, they’ll open the Eastern Conference semifinals against Atlanta today ( 5 p.m., TNT). “It’s a great city, great fans, great organization, great players, and if it meant waiting 20 years to get this job, it was well worth the wait,” Thibodeau said. – AP