Two of the highest gamers Tom Thibodeau ever coached – and the 2 gamers most likely most accountable for his NBA championship – imagine he’s being “stubborn” together with his minutes distribution and it’s going to value the Knicks within the playoffs.
“At some point, you got staff, you got assistants, you got a GM, you got presidents (who should tell Thibodeau to stop playing the starters so much),” Kevin Garnett mentioned on his podcast, “Ticket & The Truth,” co-hosted by Paul Pierce.
“And, it’s a data league, bro. Data is probably telling you, ‘Hey, the starting 5 is playing way more minutes than the average starting 5 in the league. So I’m sure he’s heard this. It goes back to what Paul just said – (Thibodeau) is so stuck in his ways and he knows how to win one way, man.”
The dialog about Thibodeau became a narrative from their time collectively in Boston, when the present Knicks coach was a Celtics assistant serving to information the franchise to the 2008 championship.
Garnett obtained into an argument with Thibodeau, who the ability ahead believed was pushing the gamers too onerous in a drill.
Garnett went for the deep minimize by telling Thibodeau, “You’re never going to be a head coach,” and, in line with Pierce, “It was like two alphas standing up proper there and I used to be like, ‘Thibs ain’t backing down, I do know Ticket ain’t backing down.’ However he’s cussed although generally. I feel he will get cussed.
“He’s a great coach, don’t put nothing in that way,” Pierce added. “But sometimes he gets stuck in his ways and is stubborn.”
Garnett advised the Knicks stars take an analogous strategy with Thibodeau.
“My only problem with a lot of the traditional stuff, it doesn’t download the latest update. Our league is high-paced. …Scores are 130 to 140 (points). The average is 120. That is All-Star (Game) s–t. The pace of the league is the reason why we’re looking at it like that,” Garnett mentioned.
“On high of that, nobody has informed Thibs – together with the gamers. If I’m Karl-Anthony Cities or I’m (Jalen Brunson), I’m pulling Thibs within the room and I’m saying, ‘Listen.’ It’s a gamers league, they’ll get this off. Thibs so cussed, although, that I don’t know. Nevertheless it’s going to should be one thing. As a result of you may’t go up towards the Bostons, the Clevelands and never have a bench.
The Knicks entered Friday with 4 of the NBA’s top-5 gamers in complete minutes – 1. Mikal Bridges, 2. Josh Hart, 3. OG Anunoby and 5. Jalen Brunson.
There are a number of causes for these numbers, past simply Thibodeau’s long-standing inclination to increase the minutes of his starters.
The Knicks have been largely wholesome this season and haven’t missed as many video games as the remainder of the NBA. They’re additionally predictably skinny on the bench after splurging on their starters within the offseason, leaving few property and no cap area to fill out the roster.
The consequence and, maybe, drained legs are the Knicks entered Friday at No. 22 in web score in fourth quarters at -2.9 whereas being outscored by 28 factors. Conversely, for the primary three quarters, they have been ranked no decrease than No. 8 in web score and outscored the opposition by 244.
“I think it’s clear cut obvious with the Knicks,” Pierce mentioned. “They’re front-loaded with their beginning lineup. They’re getting run into the bottom. They’re all taking part in 40-plus minutes – and I mentioned this from Day 1 – they don’t have depth.
“So now they’re relying on all their starters to play 40 minutes, the s–t goes to get you. Now we’re on the midway mark. Everybody has performed 40, 41 video games. They’re getting drained. They’re getting drained. And I’ve mentioned this – they’re good, they usually’re going to most likely win a playoff sequence. However they obtained to make a transfer or they obtained to attend till (Mitchell Robinson comes again).
“They need some depth. They need some depth at the perimeter, actually. Because they’re all playing 40 minutes for them to win. They’re all going to get their numbers. It’s going to look sweet. But they’re going to get tired in that fourth quarter. And that’s what I’m seeing.”
Pierce mentioned the Knicks ought to commerce for a fringe participant but additionally implored Thibodeau to make use of his bench extra usually.
Heading into Friday, the Knicks have been ranked dead-last in bench factors, bench minutes however had an honest bench web score (ranked No. 8).
“If you don’t trust these guys, this is the time to start developing them,” Pierce mentioned.
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