In their last game before the All-Star break, the Knicks had one of their worst losses of the season, letting a 28-point lead slip away against a Brooklyn team that was playing without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons.
Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News contends that the ugly loss will only intensify the scrutiny on head coach Tom Thibodeau, who mismanaged his timeouts earlier in the week against Oklahoma City and faced criticism for keeping RJ Barrett on the court in the final moments of an out-of-reach game last Tuesday (Barrett injured his ankle with less than a minute left and the Knicks down by 15).
While Bondy says “the temperature on the coach’s seat only got hotter” on Wednesday, forward Julius Randle dismissed the idea that the players are tuning out Thibodeau’s message.
“Coach is amazing. I’m riding with Coach every day,” Randle told reporters after the game (video link via Ian Begley of SNY.tv). “He challenges us and prepares us very well every day. His message is still ringing clear in the locker room. We’ve just got to execute.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- There’s optimism that point guard Derrick Rose will be able to return to action for the Knicks immediately after the All-Star break next week, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Rose has been unavailable since December 16 due to an ankle injury, but Wojnarowski says it looks like the former MVP should play next Friday vs. Miami, barring any setbacks.
- Thibodeau expressed confidence on Wednesday that Barrett will return right after the All-Star break too, telling reporters that the forward was “pretty close” to being ready but that the team wanted to give him an extra week to get back to 100%, per Steve Popper of Newsday.
- The prognosis wasn’t as positive for Nerlens Noel, who has been bothered this season by knee soreness and has missed the team’s last five games. Asked if Noel may ultimately require surgery, Thibodeau didn’t rule out the possibility, as Popper relays. “Yeah, it’s ongoing, so they’re checking that,” Thibodeau said. “Hopefully it responds better as we go.”
- Thibodeau is viewing the All-Star break as a “chance to reboot” for the Knicks, according to Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post. “Everything is on the table now. Everything has to be merit-based. You earn what you get,” the head coach said. “You look at everything. How are we going to manage this. If a guy is playing good, he plays. If the team is functioning well he should play. The team has to come first for everyone.”
- The Knicks’ signing of Luka Samanic to a two-way contract hasn’t worked out, as the big man’s season has been marred by a left heel injury, Marc Berman writes for The New York Post. With Samanic still sidelined, it’s unclear if the team will consider making a change to that two-way slot for the rest of the season, says Berman.
Let’s the good times roll
Thibs running himself out of town once again. He never seems to be very good at managing player minutes or keeping guys healthy. He keeps making bad decisions. Gotta be his last chance I would think.
Couldn’t agree more.
Thibs is a high level assistant not a HC.
Crazy how the time changes in a year….last Spring he was the savior to Knicks hoops
Yeah so what is the real issue? Maybe not a very good roster which he got to over perform last year.
If Cam Reddish is guarding Cam Thomas down the stretch of that game then NYK wins the game. I’ve loved Quentin Grimes game since literally before his freshman season at KU when he was 1 of the best players on a loaded U18 USA team winning FIBA gold. But a choice bw playing Grimes or Reddish seems pretty obvious, not just last night but from now on. Reddish is right there with Mitch as the best individual defender on this team & he’s easily the best wing/perimeter defender, all due respect to Grimes/RJ. He should’ve been starting at the 2 in Atl & now that he’s in NY I think it’s even more obvious that he should be the starting 2guard there. The continued faith in guys that are struggling like IQ over Cam is even more bewildering than Atl’s decision to choose Huerter over him.
Make sure to mention it when the Knicks front office and coaching staff reach out
Dude get off Reddish’s nuts. He asked for a trade before the season started so ofc they weren’t going to play him. Huerter outplayed Cam in Atl and has amazing chemistry with Trae and Collins. Huerter is now even starting over Bogi…which is better for the team. Bogi has embraced the 6th man role. I’m not saying that Huerter is better defensively but Cam is so inefficient and wildly streaky with his shot, you can’t depend on him. Cam wanted to be the star when Trae has to be the ball dominant player. He needs to embrace the 3 & D role…if he had in ATL, he probably would have been starting.
Knicks need a new HC. It’s that simple. They need a coach that will develop the younger talent and get the most out of veterans. Thibs isnt a guy that checks all the boxes he gets the most out ‘his guys’ and those guys are closer to retirement.
New HC, younger lineup. Trade D Rose and Randle, try and just get draft assets and expiring contracts.
Kemba, RJ, Cam, Toppin, Mitchell
Fournier, Burks, Noel, IQ, and Grimes off the bench.
Cut Gibson. Pay Mitchell Time Lord money. At the TD move Kemba, Noel, and try to move Fournier. Build through the draft, open up a Max slot and either trade for or FA to fill it.
Wash, rinse, repeat…hasn’t this been the strategy every 2 years in the last 15 for the Knicks?
Their coaching choices are always suspect since D’Antoni (not great then) and Woodson. Fisher, Rambis, Hornacek, Fizdale, Miller.
This clearly Thibs isn’t the guy and he isn’t aligned with management. So what’s the point of bringing in players if the coach isn’t going to fully utilize them?
Former MVP Derrick Rose…12 seasons ago!
Thibs still living in the good ol’ days. We got Taj so let’s go dig up Noah, Deng, Boozer. Maybe Hinrich can still give him good minutes.
It’s mind boggling to me that people still think Thibs is a coach who can lead a team to success. His Bulls tenure should have been enough evidence but somehow bonehead fans seem to forget every year.
So everyone is thinking Thibs should be gone? Who else is coming next? Would Knicks hire Mark Jackson or possibly Jerry Stackhouse? JVG is done with coaching he’s having too much fun and less stress in the broadcast booth.
Definitely not a “name” coach – we need someone who’s an up and comer who’s willing to work with a rebuilding team. Not a name dude who’s going to come in and expect to compete for a top 4 playoff seed off the rip.
Even though he had them in the top 5 in the East last season? You’re right wasn’t a good idea to try and compete this season, they should have punted and rebuilt
Agreed @butt. Someone even from the college ranks. I think Boston was doing it right when they brought in Stevens and drafted Tatum and Brown while accumulating all those picks. They just didn’t select their FAs wisely when they had the chance – Walker, Hayward and Horford, while decent, aren’t players I’d say help lift a young team to the finals.
I look at the Knicks and think we have one potential star for the future (Barrett), a solid group of bench players (IQ, Grimes, Toppin, Reddish), and a player who can get some picks or value back in Randle. Mistakes were made with the Walker and Fournier signings, and truly believe those were done for back pages, activity and season ticket holders more than anything else. Another season of no FA signings wouldn’t bode well for the restless.
Mike Brown.
Has coached superstars (though the Knicks don’t have one) and has been on GSW staff for 6 years. Have to believe he’s learned much from Kerr.
Unlike Thibs he is a player’s coach. Only the starters on Thibs’ teams like him because he never plays his bench.
Only in his early 50s which is prime coaching age.
At least Noel is essentially an expiring contract next season. Was never a fan of that contract. He’s a decent big when he’s in the lineup … problem is the “when he’s in the lineup”.
Asking Randle about Thibs or Tt about Randle is just a waste of everyone’s time duh. Why isn’t Deuce playing? And with the 26th pick in the 2021 draft the new York Knucks select…Cam Thomas? No! I hope they enjoyed watching a future superstar roast them last night, great work all-around!
What could of been with Cam Thomas. You can say that about several of the last drafts what could of been. That’s the problem with most NY teams that can’t seem to draft and develop superstars.
Sell the team
JAMES DOLAN STILL IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE ISSUE. SELL THE TEAM JD!!!
Don’t hold your breath.