Tom Thibodeau’s quote after Knicks’ shameful loss proves he doesn’t get it
Through their first 13 games of the 2022-23 season, the New York Knicks sit at 6-7. That isn’t a surprise, considering that it was assumed that the Knicks would be headed towards another mediocre season, but still, that hasn’t prevented Tom Thibodeau’s seat from growing warm.
In a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, New York put up 135 points but allowed Oklahoma City to score 145, which is the most that the Knicks have allowed since Thibodeau took over. The Thunder have a star in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who dropped 37 points in 36 minutes. It isn’t Thibs’ fault that New York didn’t go all in for Donovan Mitchell over the summer, but the coach made a series of questionable decisions in the loss.
It didn’t help that RJ Barrett had a poor game. He finished with four points (2-for-10) in 19 minutes, which is part of the reason why Thibodeau likely had no issue with playing Barrett for only two minutes in the second half.
Asked about RJ Barrett playing two minutes in the second half, Tom Thibodeau said, "We just got behind by so much that we were just looking for life. And that group that was in there (after Barrett subbed out) gave us a little bit of a spark. So that's what we went with."
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 13, 2022
Tom Thibodeau’s seat is reportedly growing warm after Knicks’ loss to Thunder
Given how RJ Barrett was playing, you can’t blame Thibodeau for deciding to bench him. However, Thibs said that the Knicks “were just looking for life” which apparently translates to leaving Evan Fournier out on the floor.
Second-half minutes played in the Knicks loss to OKC Sunday:
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) November 13, 2022
RJ Barrett: 2
Evan Fournier 14
Fourth Quarter mins:
RJ Barrett: 0
Fournier: 12
Fournier’s already been taken out of the starting lineup, and his performance on Sunday showed why. He finished with zero points (0-for-5) in 20 minutes of play. When Fournier isn’t hitting shots, he’s a non-factor because he can’t do anything on the defensive end. As you can see, he wasn’t giving the Knicks any life at all.
Nothing Thibodeau could’ve said would’ve justified playing Fournier over Barrett or Jalen Brunson, who didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter.
Thibodeau also said that he’s disappointed by New York’s “up and down nature” that the team has shown in the last few games.
Tom Thibodeau says he’s disappointed by the “up and down nature” of the last few games for the Knicks. New York gave up 143 today and lost to the Nets Wednesday by 27.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) November 13, 2022
Thibs, who’s heralded as a defensive-minded coach, is in charge of a Knicks team that has one of the worst defensive ratings in the league. He hasn’t been able to do anything for New York on the offensive end and he’s reluctant to give an increase in minutes to those that have shown that they deserve it (ie: Obi Toppin).
Not only has the start of the year shown that New York isn’t going to be able to do much without a star, but it’s become more clear that Tom Thibodeau isn’t the right coach for this young Knicks team. The front office can sit back and watch the situation get worse, or Leon Rose can step in and do some damage control. There’s still plenty of basketball left to be played, and it’d be nice for some of it to at least be enjoyable.
