Tom Thibodeau has been doing extensive film study on the Knicks in case he gets hired as the team’s next head coach, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Thibodeau, who is among 11 candidates to receive an interview, is considered to be the favorite for the job.
Thibodeau recently had a second interview that lasted three hours, Berman adds. He is reportedly very interested in helping to develop second-year center Mitchell Robinson, who has already emerged as one of the league’s most dangerous shot blockers.
Former Knicks coach Rick Pitino, who has a long history with Thibodeau, talks with Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News about the coach’s reputation for being prepared. “He was meticulously organized, almost scary organized, and he reminded me of (New England Patriots coach) Bill Belichick,” Pitino said. “I’ve spent a lot of time with Belichick and Thibodeau’s got a lot of the same mannerisms, the same attention to detail that Belichick has. And that’s about the highest compliment I could give someone.”
There’s more on the Knicks this morning:
- Mike Woodson will be a candidate to join the staff in New York even if he doesn’t get hired as the head coach, Berman adds in a separate story. David Fizdale reportedly wanted to bring on Woodson as an assistant when he was hired, but the front office turned him down.
- Taj Gibson, who played for Thibodeau in Chicago and Minnesota, didn’t say much about the coaching search during a rally Saturday in New York, but he expressed confidence that the organization will make “the right decision,” Berman writes in another piece. Gibson, who is waiting for the Knicks to decide on his $9.5MM player option for next season, was disappointed that the team wasn’t invited to be part of the NBA’s restart in Orlando. “Any competitor type would want to be out there and competing,” he said, “but we’re not and I’m just working hard in the gym getting ready for next season.’’
- The agent for French point guard Killian Hayes confirmed that the Knicks are among several teams that conducted video interviews with the projected lottery pick, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
When are the Knicks going to make a decision? Feels like every week we get an update of who they prefer to hire.
Knicks want to compete for biggest noise
The biggest noise rankings
1 Knicks
2. Warriors
3. Pistons
I haven’t heard a thing about who they prefer to hire. Who have you heard that they prefer to hire?
Killian wants to play for Warriors and Knicks because they can make bigger noises
He doesn’t want to play for Cavs
Interesting to note Thibodeau’s desire to coach Robinson. He seemed to thrive with traditional bigs, such as Noah and Gasol, but struggled with a more versatile center in Towns. Perhaps Robinson’s prowess as a defensive/rebounding specialist will work in his favor. I could see Thibs teaching Robinson to exercise better discipline and avoid foul trouble
Thibs has always been considered a D wiz. So having a young stud in middle. To anchor the D, rim protector. Fits him fine. I don’t even want Woodson on bench. Rather have Brown on bench with Miller. I don’t see the point of keeping Payton. I like him, contract is up. Especially if drafting PG (Halliburton).
Haliburton rose to #8 espn… maybe GMs heard you advocating. Me advocating Toppin got him a small rise then a fall back to #7. Besides Ball and Edwards, the lottery may be like last years… get to the top or get lucky. It looks okay after that though.