During an interview Friday with WFAN, Knicks owner James Dolan said reaching the playoffs will “definitely be a benchmark” for this season, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Dolan didn’t specify what will happen if the team falls short, but Bondy suggests the repercussions will likely be directed at head coach Tom Thibodeau, who is in his third season with the team.
New York is in seventh place in the East at 27-24 following Saturday’s loss to Brooklyn, so the prospects for at least the play-in tournament appear good. Thibodeau acknowledged Dolan’s statement, but said it won’t change his approach to running the team.
“I never worry about that stuff. Hey look, for me, I look at (Dolan) as — is he giving us everything we need to be successful? Yes,” Thibodeau said. “So, go out there and give him everything we have. Hopefully, we have the team that does that, so we want him to have belief in the team. I think that’s good.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks are focused mainly on adding bench depth before the trade deadline, Ian Begley of SNY.TV states in a mailbag column. Begley adds that the front office appears committed to building a contender around the current core group and doesn’t view a full-scale rebuilding project as a viable option.
- The Celtics will approach the trade deadline with a philosophy of trying to win the title this season, owner Wyc Grousbeck said in an interview with NBC Sports Boston (video link). When asked about his message to president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, Grousbeck responded, “It’s about this year. It’s not about ‘this will pay dividends in three years or this will do this next year. It’s this year; muscle up and let’s go get the job done.’ … If there’s anything to do, we’ll do it. If not, we love this team. We’re top of the league right now.”
- Friday’s trip to Golden State brought back memories for Raptors big man Chris Boucher, who started his NBA career by appearing in one game for the Warriors in 2018, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet. Boucher faced an uncertain NBA future at the time, but he ultimately landed a rotation role with the Raptors. “I’m a lot older, I say that. I think I take things a lot differently than I used to,” Boucher said. “(I’m) less emotional, sensitive and (can) take criticism and not thinking that it’s all about me and everybody’s pointing fingers at me and all that. More able to see my mistakes and being able to fix them by myself, trying to be a better player every time I step on the floor.”
No point in adding bench depth when your head coach runs the starters into the ground, even when he has had depth to work with.
Playing Malcolm Brogdon 39 minutes will come back to bite coach in the rear end come playoff time.
Coach needs to get Tatum to reduce his turnovers!
We all hear over & over that no Celtic has ever averted 30 points per game so maybe that’s why Tatum brings the ball up court, then dribbles & dribbles before shooting … but us fans would rather see us win games!
Oh, I forgot. Did you see Payton’s defensive effort against Miami’s Herro? After he blocked Herro’s shot from behind early on, although it was called a foul, Herro was uptight the rest of the game. Payton, although short, stays in front of his man while harassing. I like his defense as well as his energy, spark & sneaky offensive rebounding when he plays. Go Celtics!
Another brilliant assessment ……
link to basketball-reference.com
Thibs has been masterful with this roster. Nothing more than expected though, at least by those who know something about the game. His teams have overachieved almost every year he’s coached. 42 wins was my baseline before the year, as it keeps an upward trend intact. No reason to move it, but there is reason to hope for better, especially if Mitch can come back before March.
Of course, he’ll have to be evaluated at the end of year, like everyone. But it will be by Rose, not Dolan, regardless of what the media wants to suggest. Rose isn’t an idiot. He knows Thibs is a big part of what’s gone good under his regime, including the development of four late first and second round picks into rotation pieces. It’s the opposing voices in the FO that are responsible for almost all of what’s gone bad. Rose himself will answer to Dolan at some point, so I don’t expect Thibs to be going anywhere. Goes to his own survival.
Too much Kyrie ……
With no KD. Knicks shouldn’t have let Kyrie beat them. Get the ball out of his hands. Make him give it up. Double him after half court.
Knicks weren’t ready for this. After surviving Boston. They were patting themselves in the back. Still becoming a good team.
Knicks should add barton
Until Thibodeau is fired the Knicks will not get anywhere. To get beaten by one player is stupid. To have McBride guarding Irving was the start of hell for the team. Irving scored all his points in the 4th when he should have been double teamed. Give Reddish a chance to grow for crying out loud. Thibodeau stinks
To be fair they lack the talent to be any better than where they are. They are performing exactly as expected or maybe even slightly above their ceiling.
Yesss! Finally, someone said it. I agree 1000% with you!!! Thibs is a great coach but not for this team.
That recent public comment from the Boston Celtics owner telling his President of Basketball Brad Stevens to do anything to win this year was just plain foolish & self-serving. Just pressurizes Stevens to trade a bunch of good players. Ridiculous! And if Stevens doesn’t trade and we don’t win this year, then what? And if he dumps players, and we still don’t win, then what? Geez! Go Celtics!