New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeaum is a “win-now” coach.
The Knicks boast a young, underdeveloped roster, and team president Leon Rose hired his former client to not just lead, but accelerate, a rebuild.
Predictably, the sportsbooks in Vegas project the Knicks — who went 21-45 last season and failed to sign any marquee free agents — to finish with the fewest wins (22) in 2020-21. Naturally, they're also the championship long shots (500-1).
Even more predictably, the old-school coach doesn't agree with the data-driven prognostications:
“I never really pay attention to that stuff,’’ Thibodeau told the New York Post over Zoom. “If you go back over the years it’s really meaningless. What I look at is, ‘OK, this is our team. How can we get better? What gives us the best chance to win?’ It really doesn’t matter what the outside people think, whether it’s Vegas or anyone else. It’s what we think. If we come in each and every day and we do the right things and we play for each other, good things will happen.”
Part of the reason for the dire projections for New York is assuming the team regresses into some form of tanking in the latter half of the season ahead of the loaded 2021 draft.
Thibodeau, of course, is not here for the tanking talk. He reiterated his commitment to winning as many games as possible — even if that means prioritizes veterans over young players.
The Knicks drafted high-flying forward Obi Toppin with the No. 8 overall pick of the draft and sharpshooting guard Immanuel Quickley at No. 25. The rookies will join a young core featuring RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and Kevin Knox.
Considering his track record, Knicks fans should take their new coach at his word.
Follow Us
Subscribe