Tom Thibodeau gave an incredulous look. Then he smiled.
No, the Knicks’ coach mentioned with a smirk, he doesn’t care if his group wins in a shootout or a defensive battle. It might probably play quick or sluggish.
Just one factor issues to him.
“I like profitable,” he mentioned.
Thibodeau labored for defensive-minded coaches and made a reputation for himself on the defensive finish. In a survey of NBA normal managers which requested which coach runs the most effective defensive schemes, he was tied for third. He's related to protection. His first Knicks group two years in the past overachieved principally as a result of it was so stout at that finish of the ground.
“I do know I’ve been put into this field. I've no drawback with it,” Thibodeau mentioned. “However I’ve had top-five offenses, too. I believe if you happen to perceive protection, you additionally perceive the place the holes within the protection are, the place you'll be able to assault the holes within the protection. And that’s one of many benefits I believe you do achieve.”
This season, Thibodeau is altering it up considerably, emphasizing uptempo basketball, pushing the ball and taking part in with tempo after the Knicks had been next-to-last in that class final yr and useless final the season earlier than. Thibodeau’s reasoning for the change is easy: He has the gamers to execute that model, a selfless level guard in Jalen Brunson, younger gamers who thrive within the open court docket comparable to RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Cam Reddish and Immanuel Quickley and a deep roster that's fitted to taking part in quick. Each Derrick Rose and Julius Randle, two of the group’s oldest gamers, arrived in camp noticeably slimmer in preparation for the brand new model.
“I believe folks get misplaced in, ‘OK, we wanna be this.’ Properly, no,” Thibodeau mentioned. “What offers you the most effective probability to win? I believe that’s crucial factor.”
The change doesn’t shock Brunson, who has recognized the 62-year-old Thibodeau for years, all the way in which again to his days as an assistant coach for the Knicks. Thibodeau isn’t as inflexible as some assume. He can change. He’s prepared to change how he operates.
“Good coaches, good gamers, the rationale they're round for a very long time, is that they proceed to adapt,” Brunson mentioned. “They adapt their sport, they adapt their mind-set.
“It’s how the league is trending,” the brand new Knicks guard added. “Both you’re going to get with it otherwise you’re going to get left behind.”
The Knicks need to play quick. They need to run every time. After made baskets and defensive rebounds, turnovers and even one thing as primary as an inbounds move. However there's a positive line between taking part in quick and taking part in uncontrolled. Enjoying with tempo solely works whether it is being performed throughout the group idea.
“The concept is, how can we create extra worth photographs? How can we get extra layups? How can we get extra free throws? How can we get extra nook 3s?” Thibodeau mentioned. “If you have a look at how groups create 3s, it’s normally in transition. It’s offensive rebounding. … So, the extra instances you are able to do that, the higher.”
It’s clearly extremely early, however the indicators are constructive. The offense seemed vastly totally different than in previous years in the course of the preseason and the primary two regular-season video games. The ball moved. The Knicks acquired up and down faster, getting straightforward photographs. There may be far much less isolation.
There are, in fact, additionally challenges. It has to develop into second nature.
“Being according to it, you bought to do it each time,” Brunson mentioned. “It takes onerous work, it takes good conditioning, and it takes being good as nicely. Generally, we could be taking part in quick, however we’re not getting good photographs. We acquired to be good.”
That’s been Thibodeau’s speaking level from the outset. It will solely work if the Knicks are in a position to juggle tempo with endurance, sustaining their defensive mindset whereas taking part in at this quick tempo. Finally, all of it boils down to at least one factor for Thibodeau.
“I simply wanna make sure that we now have extra [points] than [the other team] on the finish,” he mentioned.
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