Joakim Noah Fits Well With the San Antonio Spurs.

Joakim Noah is the type of player who can come in and instantly elevate an already intimidating defense.

Noah won Defensive Player of the Year in 2014. He remains one of the best interior defenders in basketball.

His energy was the driving force of the Chicago Bulls teams he thrived on. Although Derrick Rose was putting up the best statistics on those Bulls teams that were consistently threats to win the Eastern Conference, Noah was undoubtedly the heart and soul of those squads.

His significance was further emphasized this season. Even before he injured his left shoulder, Noah was relegated to the bench in favor of the more offensive-minded Nikola Mirotic. New head coach Fred Hoiberg was trying to make the Bulls more of an up-tempo attack that focused on scoring points.

When Tom Thibodeau was the head coach, the Bulls were famous for their smothering defensive approach to winning basketball games. Hoiberg was trying to change the team’s identity, and no player personified that identity like Noah…..Read More

Source: Joakim Noah Fits Well With the San Antonio Spurs by Ian Smith