Knicks’ playoff run disproving this Tom Thibodeau label

The estimation is 1 thing. The reality is another.

The Knicks don’t attraction astir nan former. They’re benefitting from nan latter.

A communicative that coach Tom Thibodeau is stubborn, stuck successful his ways pinch a “my measurement aliases nan highway” mentality and hesitant to make needed adjustments has hovered complete him passim his career. But his existent players spot nan opposite.

“I deliberation erstwhile you person a label, it’s difficult to shed that label,” Josh Hart said aft believe Monday. “This whole, I don’t want to telephone it a tally because it’s 2 series, but those 2 bid [against nan Pistons and Celtics], he showed that he’s consenting to adapt, he’s consenting to change, he’s consenting to do different things than he’s utilized to. Obviously, that’s a willingness connected his end, nan spot and belief successful his players.

“Everyone gave him a explanation and they conscionable ran pinch that explanation for nan past 10, 15 years. But I deliberation nan past 2 bid showed his expertise to accommodate and alteration erstwhile necessary.”

How specifically has Thibodeau changed aliases adapted?

Knicks caput coach Tom Thibodeau reacts during nan 2nd 4th of Game 6 against nan Celtics. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“Obviously, a immense point was nan switching part,” Hart said, referencing Thibodeau’s determination to person nan Knicks move connected astir each screens against nan Celtics aft playing driblet sum nan mostly of their 4 regular-season matchups. “That’s one. I don’t want to opportunity excessively galore more. We can’t show immoderate of our cards. He put nan shot successful Mikal [Bridges’] hands erstwhile he’s going. Or erstwhile guys are hot, leaving them successful aliases making those reliable decisions connected rotations. You sewage to springiness him a batch of credit, because he’s fixed america a awesome crippled plan, making judge we’re prepared. He deserves a batch of credit.”

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All year, nan Knicks person rejected nan conception that they are not arsenic reliable arsenic past year’s team, alternatively saying that they are simply different pinch caller strengths and weaknesses. Turns out, that applies to Thibodeau arsenic well.

There were concerning moments successful nan regular season, but Thibodeau has maximized those caller strengths to bring nan Knicks farther than they’ve been successful 25 years.

New York Knicks caput coach Tom Thibodeau and adjunct coach Rick Brunson speaking during believe astatine nan Knicks training installation successful Tarrytown, New York. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“You person to study your team, you person to study what nan strengths and weaknesses of nan squad are,” Thibodeau said Monday. “Each squad is different. That’s nan situation that you person each year. Whether it’s draught picks, trades, free agency, immoderate it mightiness be. Or possibly you get a subordinate backmost that was injured nan erstwhile year. And past nan situation is, really do you put it together? And you person to get connected nan aforesaid page arsenic quickly arsenic possible.

Follow The Post’s sum of nan Knicks successful nan 2025 NBA Playoffs

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“Just support focusing connected regular improvement. Sometimes you do autumn short,” Thibodeau said. “ The adjacent day, you gotta get up and make judge you’re making your corrections and moving forward. You ever want to beryllium moving forward.”

The Knicks went 1-3 against nan Pistons and 0-4 against nan Celtics successful nan regular play earlier eliminating some successful six games successful nan postseason.

Clearly, adjustments were made.

“There’s a batch of misconceptions astir everyone,” Jalen Brunson said Monday. “That’s fine. Control what we tin control. Let whoever talk astir immoderate they want to talk about.”