Latest news with #Thibodeau
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Player Gives Definitive Verdict on Knicks Firing Tom Thibodeau
Former Player Gives Definitive Verdict on Knicks Firing Tom Thibodeau originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Knicks, under head coach Tom Thibodeau, lost to the Indiana Pacers for the second season in a row. Advertisement However, for the first time since 2000, they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and very clearly have the talent to compete, especially in the Eastern Conference. As the Knicks grapple with a disappointing loss, Thibodeau has come under fire for his rotations and reluctance to rest his stars during the regular season. However, he has the full faith of the front office and superstar Jalen Brunson, so for now, it seems that his job is safe despite falling short of the NBA Finals. New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Chandler Parsons Offers Thibodeau Verdict Thibodeau took over as head coach of the Knicks before the 2021-22 season, and aside from his second season in town, New York has improved every season and has made it past the first round for the last three seasons. Advertisement That's the longest streak of winning in the first round that the Knicks have had since 2000. With "Thibs" seen to be on the hot seat by some, not everyone is sold that there is any pressure on him regarding job security. "I think his job is safe," said Chandler Parsons. "I think he deserves to come back. I mean, look at his record in his five seasons. Yes, we can nitpick the load management. We can nitpick the depth issues that the Knicks have had, the overusage rate of Jalen Brunson, and the injuries that they've had. But that's not fair. At the end of the day, this team went to the Eastern Conference Finals and lost to a team that they arguably think they were better than." While the Knicks were favored to beat the Pacers, the Knicks' lack of depth was quickly made apparent, and Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns simply did not play as well as they needed. Advertisement "It would be a huge mistake and disservice to fire him and let him go after the success that he's had there in five seasons," Parsons finished. The Knicks have the talent to make it out of the East next season, and running things back with a similar roster and coaching staff seems to be the smart thing to do. Check out the All Knicks home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Knicks Players, Coaches Had Major Karl-Anthony Towns Complaints During Season Related: How New York Knicks Can Land Giannis Antetokounmpo This Offseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Tom Thibodeau's future with New York Knicks safe despite ECF loss to Indiana Pacers and fan criticism
After a promising playoff run that ended just two wins shy of the NBA Finals, the New York Knicks have decided to retain head coach Tom Thibodeau. Despite losing a six-game series to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals and frustrating some fans, Thibodeau's position remains secure, backed by strong recommendations from team president Leon Rose and star point guard Jalen Brunson. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Leon Rose and Jalen Brunson endorse Tom Thibodeau amid offseason speculation Following the Knicks' postseason exit, speculation about potential coaching changes began to swirl. However, reports indicate that both Leon Rose and Jalen Brunson have shown unwavering support for Thibodeau. Brunson, who joined the Knicks in 2022 in part to play under Thibodeau, responded forcefully when asked about the coach's future, stating, "Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he's the right guy. Yes. Come on." This support indicates that the organization appreciates the stability and progress achieved under Thibodeau's leadership. Since taking over in 2020, he has transformed the Knicks from perennial disappointments into true contenders, culminating in their deepest playoff run in 25 years. Knicks' playoff performance highlights both progress and areas for growth In the 2024-2025 season, the Knicks reached 61 wins overall, a significant achievement that demonstrates the team's evolution. Jalen Brunson had a spectacular performance in the postseason, with several 30-point games, which was instrumental in the team's success. Even so, there were weaknesses seen during the series with the Pacers. Problems on defense and poor chemistry, especially between Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, could be noticed. Furthermore, questions were asked about player fatigue and the number of substitutes in the lineup, since there were signs of tension among some players about how much work they were being given. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite these challenges, there seems to be a consensus within the organization that prefers continuity over drastic changes. The focus now is on addressing the team's needs and improving cohesion to build on this season's achievements. Strategic decisions await in the offseason The Knicks are preparing for the upcoming season and will make some key decisions. Since there are trade limitations connected to giving Mikal Bridges a new contract worth $156 million for four years, the owners will have to make sure this is the right decision. Also, the team is under pressure in the draft and free agency since it only has a second-round pick and not much room under the cap. Focusing on internal development is crucial, especially with young talents like Ariel Hukporti, Tyler Kolek, and Pacome Dadiet set to take on bigger roles. Their growth could really add the depth necessary to back up the main lineup and ease the pressure on the star players. Also Read: The New York Knicks have chosen to keep Tom Thibodeau after deciding they still rely on the improvements made under his leadership over the last few seasons. While the Eastern Conference Finals loss exposed some things to improve, the basketball leadership is satisfied with their abilities and trust in Thibodeau. Smart moves with their roster and player development could mean that the Knicks go further in the playoffs next season.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
New York Knicks: Eastern Conference finals loss explained
For one, the team relies so significantly on All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson that he's often tasked with saving New York. But that's just the beginning. OPINION: Small-market Pacers party down in big way with NBA Finals trip MORE: Pascal Siakam named Eastern Conference finals MVP after Pacers down Knicks Five reasons why the New York Knicks lost the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers: 1. Going down 0-2 at home Teams simply cannot gift games during the postseason, especially during the conference finals. Game 1, when the Knicks held a nine-point lead with 58.8 seconds left to play, was the epitome of a missed opportunity. The Knicks actually held a 17-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, but they became complacent and could not answer Indiana's pace. It was bad enough for the Knicks to drop the series opener at home, but it was even worse when they dropped Game 2 in the Garden to fall behind 0-2 headed to Indiana. 2. Trying to match Indiana's tempo From Game 1, it appeared that Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau's preference was to try to match Indiana's speed, rather than to grind games down. It would turn out to be misguided. The Knicks ranked 27th in the regular season in pace, generating 97.64 possessions per 48 minutes. Indiana ranked seventh (100.76). While the Knicks sometimes did have success against the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics in the earlier rounds when pushing tempo, New York would've been far better off slowing the game against the Pacers because this was exactly how Indiana wanted to play. 3. Turnovers The Knicks committed more turnovers than the Pacers in all but one of the games, and New York lost the turnover margin overall, 93-75. In itself, that's pretty bad, but it gets worse. Because of the speed with which the Pacers play, those turnovers turned into easy offense: the Pacers posted a crushing 140-61 advantage in points off turnovers throughout the series. 4. Transition defense The previous point feeds somewhat into this. But whether it was off of turnovers, missed shots or even out of inbounds passes on made attempts, New York did not sustain precise focus on spotting Pacers leaking out in transition. While physically demanding, Thibodeau could've done more to tweak strategy, insisting that players drop back to prevent fastbreak chances. The Pacers registered more fastbreak points than New York in every game this series. Frankly, that was always going to be the likely outcome; the margin is what was concerning. The Pacers scored 106 fastbreak points across the six games, while the Knicks put up just 48. 5. Tom Thibodeau's inconsistent use of the bench It wasn't until Game 3 of the series, after the Knicks were already desperate and down 0-2, that Thibodeau tweaked the rotation to match up better with Indiana. Thibodeau has always been a coach set in his ways, and his reluctance to go with fresher legs -- against a team that sprints up and down the floor -- was baffling. This is magnified further because guards Delon Wright and Landry Shamet are known to be plus-defenders, something New York sorely needed earlier in the series when Indiana's guards were scoring at will. Thibodeau did receive some credit when he eventually extended his rotation; it came far too late.
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Can New York take one more step with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns as their best players?
The most telling comment of the Eastern Conference Finals came from Pacers coach Rick Carlisle after Game 3, just after his team blew a 20-point lead and let the Knicks back in the series. Much of the Knicks' second-half surge that night came while All-NBA point guard Jalen Brunson was on the bench due to foul trouble. Carlisle said the comeback was due to the Knicks having their 'better defensive players' on the court. In what was a season to be celebrated, defense was always the issue in New York. Knicks players are on their way to Cancun today because their core players couldn't guard well enough when it came time to slow the space-and-pace Pacers. That all started with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the entire Eastern Conference Finals, Brunson was -26 on a Knicks team that was -11 total. It begs the question: Can the Knicks take that next step with those two as their best players? One can argue that after this last series, OG Anunoby is the Knicks' second-best player. However you choose to rank the roster, the Knicks likely bring back their top seven players from this season have the taxpayer mid-level exception and other moves to add some talent. Can Leon Rose and the front office add a couple more quality rotation players who can defend, then get Thibodeau to trust them and play the bench next season? Successful Knicks season and missed opportunity This was the best Knicks season in decades — it was their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000 and Madison Square Garden was electric. Timothée Chalamet spent so much time with Ben Stiller that he might appear in the next season of 'Succession.' New York had the fifth most wins in the league and was one of the final four teams standing. This season was also a missed opportunity. The Knicks were healthy and slayed the Goliath of the East in Boston — a series where New York was the better team even before Jayson Tatum's injury. There was a path to the Finals and maybe a ring. That path should still be there next season. In a more wide-open East (with Boston's Tatum and Milwaukee's Damian Lillard expected to miss most, if not all, of the season due to significant injuries), the smart play may be to run it back, but will it be good enough? Knicks need depth, defense Brunson and Towns both made All-NBA and led New York to the fifth-best offense in the NBA this season. They needed that from the duo to cover up a mediocre defense where those two were part of the problem. The Knicks' defense improved in the second half of the season, particularly with Mitchell Robinson on the court, but it still had its limitations. After the All-Star break, New York had the 11th-ranked defense in the league, and it was 1.8 points per 100 possessions better than it had been before the break. Still, there were places for the Pacers and other teams to attack in the half court, and Indiana largely won this series on transition buckets where Knicks players simply did not get back. Thibodeau faces a paradox because Brunson and Towns drive the offense but are defensive targets. In Game 6, the Knicks' frustrations with Towns' defensive lapses were evident. Towns played in more drop coverage off pick-and-rolls, which may not have been the plan based on reactions from teammates. Frustration with Towns' defensive execution is not new to this series, it was an issue all season and reportedly led to a lot of team meetings. This is the first time the Knicks have been in the conference finals in more than two decades — that should be celebrated. Beyond that, Knicks fans can rightfully say that if their team doesn't blow Game 1 (giving up a 20-point lead and losing in overtime), they might win this series (or, at least they would be headed home for Game 7). However, the Pacers dictated the run of play, and the style of play through much of the Eastern Conference Finals. They were the better team. At the heart of that is Tyrese Haliburton's ability to get everyone around him involved and lift up his teammates in a way that the ball-dominant Brunson does not. Haliburton was the perfect conductor of a more ensemble cast, one that fits together beautifully. Knicks offensive diversity New York's offense with Brunson leading it is very station-to-station. It's predictable and involves a lot of pounding the ball before one of the stars tries to beat their guy. That works against most teams due to the talent Brunson and Towns (and Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges) possess, but against elite defenses and teams, it often falls short. The book on how to defend the Knicks has been in place for a couple of seasons: Use a wing to guard Towns and assign your center to Josh Hart — a non-threat as a 3-point shooter — and let him protect the paint on drives. That has stayed the strategy because it works. Against a team like the Pacers, with a good wing defender in Pascal Siakam and a solid rim protector in Myles Turner, that strategy is particularly effective. With the ball-dominant Brunson running the show, the Knicks' offense lacks diversity in its attack. Thibodeau had to lean into Landry Shamet against the Pacers because he could bring a little more offensive diversity — a guy who could be run off screens and score — that they had been lacking. Take a look at what some other NBA executives and front office personnel told ESPN. 'I love Brunson. But I'm not sure you can win with a ball-dominant player like him,' the West executive said. 'There's a ceiling for how far he can take you because you have to play the way he plays,' the scout said. 'Those guys need a specific player next to them.' Brunson is an elite point guard, but the Knicks need more shot creation around him, more players to take the burden off his shoulders. Bridges was supposed to be that, but Anunoby filled that role more in the playoffs. The Knicks front office needs to spend part of the summer finding players who can take over some of that shot creation and get others involved. Those players also need to be high-level defenders. Finding those guys is not easy. New York is close, but they have steps to take if they are going to beat the Pacers and Cavaliers next season (and maybe Boston), plus any other teams that make a bold offseason move (Toronto?). The Knicks cannot have a better +/- in a playoff series with their star off the court next season. We know what Brunson is and what he can do, but he and Towns need a little more help while this window is open.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Knicks' Jalen Brunson defends Tom Thibodeau as head coach moving forward: 'Is that a real question?'
When the dust finally settles from the Knicks' season-ending loss to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, a considerable chunk of the summer chatter will center around the job security of head coach Tom Thibodeau. The debates among fans and pundits haven't cooled down. Some believe the veteran coach deserves another season to guide the Knicks' current core, while others contend a fresh face sharing a new philosophy is needed for the franchise to finally reach championship heights. Advertisement Thibodeau's seat isn't as hot as it used to be -- there were rumblings about his future back in April, before the Knicks faced the underdog Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. A disappointing finish to the 2024-25 season can't erase their overachievements, and captain Jalen Brunson emphatically believes his coach is fit to continue leading the group. "Is that a real question right now?" Brunson said after the Game 6 loss to the Pacers on Saturday night. "You just asked me if I believe he's the right guy? Yes." The Knicks didn't play a disciplined brand of basketball with a long-coveted trip to the NBA Finals up for grabs. They comitted a whopping 93 turnovers across six games against the Pacers, and conceded 23.3 points on average from those blunders alone. Throughout the series, Indiana was tougher and more resilient. Of course, not all fingers can be pointed toward Thibodeau for the Knicks' shortcomings. His job is restricted to the bench and sideline. But there isn't a single Knicks fan who could seriously argue Thibodeau coached a better series than Pacers veteran Rick Carlisle. In a battle of wits and scheme, it was practically no contest. Advertisement But the Knicks still earned their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals with mental fortitude and timely starpower, and even Carlisle recognizes how Thibodeau has helped reshape the franchise's image since assuming the head coaching job in 2020. "The Knicks were an unreal opponent," Carlisle said. "Tough-minded, always coming at you. After the game, they showed great class with all the interactions I had with those guys. I mentioned the job that Thibs has done there. He's turned the culture completely flipped from where it was." Thibodeau, who turned 67 in January, signed a three-year contract extension with the Knicks last summer that keeps him with the team through the 2027-28 season. Only time will tell if he sticks around for the handful of seasons remaining on his deal.
