Knicks: Is it too early to criticize Tom Thibodeau?
By Ken Tavarez
Knicks’ Previous Coaches: Mike Miller
Even interim coach Mike Miller, who had never been a head coach in the NBA produced similar results to Thibodeau with the same starting 5. Don’t believe me? Just see below.
Are the @nyknicks outperforming as much as you think - 10-14 in last 24 games last year vs. 11-13 this year. Performance uptick started under Mike Miller. All 5 starters were on the team last year. Have at it? But, I’ll say this - I measure teams after they play 20. https://t.co/ewAxlJ7cH1
— Clarence Gaines (@ClarenceGaines2) February 7, 2021
I liked how Mike Miller handled the team. He implemented a lot of the same strategies as Thibodeau. He held the team more accountable on defense, ran a more structured offense, and he also created defined roles for the young players.
While Thibodeau deserves credit for the improvement in Randle’s play, most of his struggles last season were at the beginning of the season. His play improved after Miller took over and he had developed chemistry with his new teammates.
Miller was the G-League coach of the year in 2017-18 for a reason, he is great at development. Yet, he won’t play the young players much. Why? You might ask. The reason is obvious, he was coaching for his job.
Sure sounds like Thibodeau, coaching each game like it’s his last. The difference is it literally was for Miller, it was his only shot at being a head coach in the NBA. But that isn’t Thibodeau’s situation, he is in the first year of a 5 year contract. The only pressure he should be feeling is to develop a team that is built for sustained winning.