Why New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is on the hot seat
By Adam Kester
New York Knicks: Tom Thibodeau vs. the front office
This is something I’ve begun to realize and have written about for months now, but there is clearly a disconnect between all of the different voices in the New York Knicks organization.
Marc Berman of the New York Post pointed this out at the trade deadline, that people around the league feel the Knicks have “too many cooks in the kitchen” making basketball decisions.
You can see it from the offseason.
The idea this offseason was simple — add more shot creators to help out the offense, and the team’s defense will stay the same because of the head coach.
It was an idea that many (myself included) believed to be obvious, and yet, looking back on it, it’s very clearly a plan that sounds good on paper but discredits the basics of team building.
For better or for worse — we knew what to expect from the Knicks every game last season. They were a slow, grueling team that played hardnosed defense. They were physical and would find ways to stay in games.
Sure, the Knicks’ lack of shot creation cost them in the playoffs, but it was their defense and grit that got them there in the first place.
Do Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker seem like those types of guys? Regardless of what their level of basketball is, those are just not Tom Thibodeau players. They simply can’t fill the roles and responsibilities he gives to his starting wing and point guard.
We know he wanted to keep Bullock, and perhaps the New York Knicks should’ve gone for athletic, hardnosed guys at those positions.
This idea of “running it back” wasn’t well thought out. Tom Thibodeau isn’t going to change how he coaches for Evan Fournier’s style of basketball. And now, this team is trying to capture a spirit from last year that they just can’t put together with this roster.