I've lauded Noah so many times this in the past couple of seasons as he has risen to NBA stardom. I regret omitting his improved passing this season in my Bulls-Wizards preview, but that's a conversation for another day. Today, we honor the defensive prowess that helps make Noah the heart and soul of this Bulls team. His play gives rise to his emotions, which boosts his team's morale, which increases their chances of closing out a tight game.
Tom Thibodeau asked his center to up his play and leadership following the injury to Derrick Rose and the trade of Luol Deng. Noah went above all expectations and thanks to his encouragement of everyone around him, the Bulls were able to push aside any and all suggestions that they tank the season for the sake of a higher draft pick. Neither him, nor Thibodeau can stand to lose and without each other, at least one of that duo's NBA success would be more limited to this point. It's entirely possible their words would fall on deaf ears elsewhere, but thanks to the culture instilled by Thibodeau after he took over, we've seen optimal results.
The best part is Noah doesn't seem to want to play anywhere else. Although he has two years left on his contract and a lot can change in that time, he appears content with Chicago and has even talked about winning a championship here. It might not happen this year, but as long as he continues to let his game speak, the next Larry O'Brien Trophy may not be so far away. In the meantime, he'll attempt to get his team back to its winning ways. Even if mentor Tyrone Green is no longer around to encourage him, he knows he can still find the right stuff. That's how he's gotten to where he now is.
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