It’s no secret that former Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau did things his way and had been a little reluctant to change over the course of his career. But it sounds like by the time he was willing to adjust it was already too late.
On Wednesday’s “Get Up” the morning after his firing, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst speculated that New York‘s success after Thibodeau’s adjustments in the Pacers series might’ve ultimately sealed his fate with Knicks brass and their decision.
“What Tom Thibodeau did to his coaching strategy during the Eastern Conference finals might’ve assured his firing,” Windhorst explained. “What I mean by that is after falling down 2-0 in that series he made a whole bunch of changes.”
“He changed his starting lineup … he extended multiple players into his bench— something that players and team personnel and people across the league had been begging him to do for months. He also changed some his strategies within the coaching of the game and it worked,” he pointed out.
“They won two of the next three games, got themselves back into the series… But in way that just highlighted how his rigidity might’ve held the Knicks back a little bit.”
Thibodeau was relieved of his duties yesterday after leading New York to its first conference finals in a quarter century, and the first back-to-back 50+ win seasons since Patrick Ewing suited up at The Garden.
The Knicks released a statement on Coach Thibs’ firing wishing him well. But have yet to answer questions from the media about the particulars of what led to the two sides going their separate ways.
Several coaches have emerged as potential options for the franchise. Including Michael Malone, Taylor Jenkins and UConn’s Dan Hurley. However, it remains to be seen what direction Leon Rose and Co. want to go in.
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