Thomas Wants to Be Given What Gibson Has Earned

Tyrus Thomas did not play versus the Heat on Saturday. Instead, Chris Richard, recently signed from the D-League's Tulsa 66ers (owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder and rife with talent) got the minutes Thomas would have. And he didn't score the winning field goal, or spur an offensive explosion. But Richard came in, and did his job. He grabbed seven rebounds, handed out two assists, nabbed a steal, and had two blocks. This is the box score version. But the combination of effort and size he put in what exactly what the Bulls needed, especially with Joakim Noah out, and helped the Bulls outlast Dwyane Wade's Miami Heat.

That effort is in deep contrast to Thomas' absence, caused by a post-game tirade after the Bulls loss in Atlanta the night before. Thomas has been on the outs in Chicago since an injury derailed him early in the season. Upon return, he discovered that Taj Gibson's steady, consistent, but un-jaw-dropping play had cemented him in the starting power forward spot. Thomas responded with the same approach he's taken for most of his career. Disinterest mixed with resentment, lacking any effort to consistently produce what's being asked of him. If Tyrus Thomas is everything the fans want when he tries, Chris Richard is good enough for what his coaches want because he does try.

Richard long could have abandoned the NBA dream, having spent three seasons bouncing from training camp to overseas to the D-League. But with an impressive physical set and after consistently earning marks for both his talent and effort, Richard may finally be turning it around. We'll have to see if he can produce at the NBA level like he did versus the Heat to see if his ten-day contract is extended to the rest of the season. Richard makes for a compliment to Gibson's quiet, but relentless approach. Whereas Thomas is more likely to jump seemingly 20 feet in the air to block a shot, Gibson's more likely to commit a hard foul to stop a shot. While Thomas can throw down a dunk like few can (even though he's publicly dismissed the dunk contest in a pretty fan unfriendly way), Gibson's more likely to scrap for an offensive put-back.

Thomas is continually defended by Bulls fans because of his high ceiling, his lack of development blamed on Vinny Del Negro. Gibson is sometimes derided because he wasn't the sexy pick that DeJuan Blair was and because he wasn't born after the Berlin Wall fell. Thomas is an electrifying athlete. Richard and Gibson are just solid basketball players.

So is this the right decision? The question becomes on if you should buy into what the team as a whole, who is led by the coach, is trying to accomplish, or play the players with the most talent. Thomas has had every opportunity to grow into a franchise player for the Bulls and instead has never mentally focused in the way the team has needed. Blaming Vinny Del Negro is the popular way out, and many think that if Thomas ends up somewhere with a better coach, he'll thrive and reach at least some of his potential. But it doesn't take a ton of analysis to watch Thomas and see that he's not willing to bend at any level to what the coaching staff wants or the team needs. He's committed to doing things his way and a believer that his God-given abilities and the athletic prowess he has worked hard to develop for himself should override his deficiencies in focus, communication, and cohesion.

Thomas' time in Chicago is almost certainly coming to its end. And it's entirely possible that Thomas will mature and thrive under a new coach, instantly pinning Vinny Del Negro (and Scott Skiles, to some degree) as the culprits in his wasted years. But those that saw the blood on Chris Richard's shirt, with the big getting paid a fraction of Thomas' contract, can probably identify the real gap between Thomas and the acclaim he's after. And it's something you can't fill with jumping, no matter how high.