5 Takeaways from the Knicks 2020-2021 Season

Tom Thibodeau the coach The Knicks have been waiting For

Ah yes, the grumpy man himself. My mom was watching the playoffs and she texted me asking if he ever smiles because every time they cut to him he looks like this.

Ends up he does smile mom.

Just not during the playoffs.

Jokes aside, he’s done an outstanding job in his first year as the Knicks head coach. Last year they were 21-45 which equates to a .318 win percentage, this year they were 41-31 which is a .569 win percentage. That jump of .251 percentage is one of the highest all-time and Thibs did this with basically the same roster as last year bar some rookies and D Rose (we love you please come back).

He has a career .587 win percentage and has only had 2 seasons of below .500 basketball as a head coach. He demands excellence and that all starts on the defensive end.

The Knicks ranked at the top of the league in several defensive categories. They were first in the league in points allowed and fg allowed and near the top in many more categories. Thibs may not be an offensive mastermind, but he is no doubt a defensive savant. To lead the league in points allowed while having no players on the team made the all defensive teams, even though Nerlens Noel certainly deserves a nod, is all the more impressive.