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What does Tom Thibodeau’s nine-man rotation mean for Knicks’ future?

ByAlejandro Lopez|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: Head Coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks calls out from the bench against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Madison Square Garden on November 30, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks 109-103. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: Head Coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks calls out from the bench against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Madison Square Garden on November 30, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks 109-103. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

On Sunday, the New York Knicks managed to pull off an important win at home against the three-seed Cavaliers, albeit with a rather ugly performance. Yet oddly enough, the win was met with more question marks from the team than answers.

Tom Thibodeau rolled out a nine-man rotation in the win and most notably Cam Reddish and Derrick Rose were not one of those nine players to hit the floor. This was a confusing development, especially in the case of Reddish, who many felt was giving the team good minutes as a starter defensively.

These question marks soon turned into anger for many fans as Thibodeau explained the decision in his post-game press conference.

"“We’re always going to do what we think is best for the team. So I want to prioritize that. And that doesn’t mean it’s permanent. It just means that’s where we are right now. Whatever gives us the best chance to win, that’s what we’re going to do.”"

Tom Thibodeau’s nine-man Knicks rotation was likely his plan all along

This is frankly a baffling development even for Thibs’ standards. Reddish was coming off of a less-than-stellar performance against the Mavericks on Saturday, but this is someone who Thibodeau had starting a majority of games in the month of November. One of those games included his career high as a member of the Knicks with a 26-point performance against the Thunder.

Thibodeau did try to keep fans happy by saying the decision was not “permanent” but anyone who knows how Thibodeau operates knows that he isn’t someone that likes to go deep into his bench often. His plan was likely to get to a nine-man rotation and he was using the early part of the season to make that decision.

The issue is…. what now? If the Knicks plan on moving forward with this rotation, the team has a total of around $35 million invested into players who aren’t getting minutes. Do we just let those contracts go to waste at the end of New York’s bench or do we see who can be moved by the trade deadline?

In all fairness to Thibs, his decision to go to a nine-man rotation has seen positive results in the past two games. Against the Cavaliers and Hawks, the third and fourth teams in the East, respectively, the Knicks held the opposition to a combined 36% from the floor and 19% from three.

But whatever decision is made with New York’s remaining players, one thing remains certain, this nine-man rotation will not be the last difficult decision Thibs is faced with this season. He, along with the rest of the front office, needs to think long and hard about the future of these players he has decided to not play, because their future with the team may very well have a lasting impact on his own.

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