The New York Knicks are right in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race through the first chunk of the NBA season, and former Knick great Carmelo Anthony gives head coach Tom Thibodeau a lot of credit.

After the Knicks missed out on big-name free agents once again in the offseason, it seemed that they would finish as one of the worst teams in the league. Instead, Coach Thibs has this team at 10-13, which is good for ninth in the East.

Anthony says he loves the “fire” that Thibs brings, and whatever he's doing at Madison Square Garden seems to be working. Julius Randle has been the Knicks' best player, averaging 22.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and six assists.

RJ Barrett is averaging 17.8 points and is much improved from last year, and center Mitchell Robinson has been much improved as well on both ends of the floor.

While the Knicks might make the playoffs, or at the very least the play-in tournament, and Thibodeau has this young team playing with no quit and pure energy on a nightly basis.

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Blazers logo in the middle surrounded by Zaccharie Risacher (JL Bourg), Alex Sarr (Perth Wildcats), Donovan Clingan (UConn) with NBA draft background.

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76ers Joel Embiid on the bench from game one or game two of playoff series vs. New York Knicks with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart smiling or laughing.

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Tom Thibodeau in New York Knicks coaching uniform

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For Anthony, his career is winding down, but his years in New York were some of the best he's had. He averaged at least 21.0 points in each of his seven seasons after being traded from the Denver Nuggets.

The success in New York is a huge testament to Thibodeau and his coaching prowess, and the future appears to be bright on the horizon after decades of disappointment.