Tom Thibodeau: Breaking down the Knicks leading coaching candidate
It felt cruel: on the same day the Knicks announced they’re finally re-opening their practice facility after 2 1/2 months, news leaked that the team’s season is probably over.
And maybe it’s better off this way.
The Knicks, after all, have a coaching search to conduct, and throwing a disastrous 2019-20 season in the garbage will be easy. Who wants to remember David Fizdale’s stint, or Steve Mills’ o …
But the belief is that this is Thibodeau’s to lose, and a source said he’s confident about getting the job — to the point that Thibodeau has made calls to assemble a staff.
Thibodeau is known as a defensive specialist as both an assistant and head coach. His scheme, which is predicated on overloading the strong side (similar to a zone), changed the NBA. He’s also a tireless worker and a coaching lifer.
Weaknesses:
Thibodeau clashed with management in Chicago and didn’t connect with Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota. He also carries the rep of overworking his players, which is a hot topic in this era of load management.
Why he’s a good hire:
Thibodeau acknowledged a willingness to grow and learn from his experiences with the Bulls and Timberwolves, particularly how to handle rest for veterans. As a coach, he won’t be outworked and it’s hard to argue with the results. Even in Minnesota, where Thibodeau was considered a failure, consider this: the Timberwolves secured their only playoff appearance in 16 years and have been worse since he left.
