He just coached the Chicago Bulls to a very impressive Game 1 win in Cleveland. He finished off the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of the first round with a 54-point victory. He has had a surprising level of success the past two seasons despite being without Derrick Rose. He is widely regarded as one of the best tacticians in basketball.

Yet Tom Thibodeau appears to be on the way out in Chicago.

Even if he wins a championship.

How can this be? Is there any precedent?

To answer to second question first ... you might just remember that Phil Jackson left the Bulls -- and they broke up their dynasty -- in 1998 after winning the NBA title for the sixth time in eight years. At that time, the disconnect between the head coach and the front office was so immense, there was no turning back the dynamiting of one of the greatest teams ever. It made no sense then, and it still makes no sense today ... unless you compare it to a divorce.

And that is how we answer the first question posed above, in this podcast with WGN Radio in Chicago.