NBA Executive believes Tom Thibodeau will hold Knicks back in playoffs
After winning Coach of the Year in 2020-21, Tom Thibodeau then went on to guide the New York Knicks to a disappointing 37-45 record that wasn’t good enough to make the play-in tournament. Many Knicks fans rightfully wanted to see Thibodeau gone, but with the support of Leon Rose, the head coach has been able to salvage his reputation in New York with this season’s team.
The Knicks could miss the play-in tournament again this year, but only because the team could finish in the top six and earn an automatic playoff berth. So, after hoping that New York would be in the play-in last year, fans are hoping for the opposite this year.
Although Jalen Brunson’s been dealing with a sore left foot, hopes are high for the Knicks as the regular season draws to an end. This team could be the one that advances past the first round of the playoffs for only the second time since the 1999-2000 season.
While many doubters have turned into believers in recent weeks, there are still some that aren’t confident that New York has what it takes to make some noise in the playoffs. CBS Sports spoke with two NBA executives, an NBA scout, and a former top NBA player to get their perspectives on what this Knicks team can do.
NBA Executive ‘highly skeptical’ of Knicks because of Tom Thibodeau
While one NBA executive thinks that New York could make a “serious playoff run,” another isn’t confident in Tom Thibodeau’s head coaching abilities in the playoffs.
"“Unless someone’s hurt, I don’t see anyone beating those teams in a seven-game series,” he said. “I see (New York) as a second-round team. Them versus Cleveland would be a good first-round series.”While he likes what New York has built, and also has been impressed with Brunson’s time in New York, he’s also highly skeptical of Thibodeau. He’s worried the Knicks coach is too rigid in the defensive coverages he uses, the adjustments he makes, and what is often a perceived inflexibility for an otherwise celebrated coach.“The issue will be Thibs will not change in the playoffs,” he said."
You can be excited about the potential of the Knicks while also being worried about Thibodeau getting outcoached in the playoffs. His shortened rotation is what helped to turn New York’s season around, but that doesn’t mean that he’s no longer stubborn. It was a miracle that he finally benched Evan Fournier.
The playoffs are an entirely different beast, though. Thibodeau’s reluctance to make in-game adjustments could very well hold the Knicks back when it matters most. He doesn’t have a good playoff resume in New York, either. Overall, Thibodeau holds a 25-36 record in the postseason. In Minnesota, he was part of only one playoff win in three years.
Let’s hope that the opposite happens in a few weeks. If the Knicks and Tom Thibodeau can make a run in the playoffs, it will be the most exciting thing that fans have experienced in a decade.
