Tom Thibodo never married – except for his team.
Thibodo prefers peering at a sports film rather than laying on a beach in Turks and Caicos. After the shootout in Minnesota in January 2019, he got too much beach time during a 1-year hiatus. And they did not like it.
The 63-year-old considers every game – as Julius Randall recently said – “it’s a playoff game.” A team executive landed Ek-Randall: “Nah, he gets dressed like every game, it’s the Super Bowl. Unbelievable attention to detail. “
Thibodo’s friends have talked to him about finding more hobbies, but basketball is his life.
A Knicks franchise that roamed the jungle over the past seven seasons has found an oasis – or a winning record after at least 35 games.
There is no award for Comeback Coach of the Year but that’s okay. If it remains in the second half, Thibodo is entitled to win the Coach of the Year.
Thibodo’s Knicks start 18-17 and sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, hitting the midpoint of their season on Tuesday in San Antonio.
“I think Tom will definitely be high on everyone’s list,” an NBA head coach told The Post. “He’s doing an incredible job.” ‘
Doctor Rivers has done well in Philly and Queen Snyder is usually solid for him in Utah. Rivers and Snyder will coach the All-Star Game as leaders of their respective conferences.
But the Jazz and Sixers have won for a few years with a crew of standouts (Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris in Filly, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley with Utah).
There is not nearly as much of a culture change as is found with the NBA’s most important franchise. Nax players are telling their agents that they have not played for a coaching staff that has worked this hard.
“Someone who believes you can develop players and try to win at the same,” a coaching aide told The Post, Tom is proving this. “” Everyone just thought that management was going to be in tank mode, but nobody had anything to do with it. He is proving to the developing players and trying to win is not mutually exclusive. “
Defense is Thibodo’s calling card and has exceeded expectations. The Knicks fiercely defended the paint and vigorously fought 3-point shots.
With the same group as last season, Thibodo has a defensive rating of the Knicks that ranks second in the league behind Utah and ahead of the third-ranked Lakers. Last season’s David Fitzdale / Mike Miller Knicks finished 25th.
Leon Rose celebrated his one-year anniversary on Monday as the Knicks’ president and, best of all, was wooing Thibodo despite a reputation. Fee? Being too harsh on young players.
These Knicks are related to Thibodo in a way even Rose and Senior Vice President William Wesley would not have imagined. Sources said there was a minor reservation in the post Wesali. Rose had no doubt.
“He sets the tone and people follow his intensity and game plan,” said a person from Nux.
Rose no longer talks to the media – he has been silent for seven months. But the former agent made a poignant comment during his extended coaching search.
Rose said he was looking for a coach “When you are arrogant and you are looking into that coach’s eyes, every player who is watching him knows that the person is driving the ship and gets the job done. Is going to do
The same is happening here. Even with the recent emergence of injuries to Mitchell Robinson, Elfried Payton and Taj Gibson, the orange and blue ship continues to sail smoothly.
“Thibs is my dog,” said Knott’s Defensive Center Nerlens Noel, an internal threat filling in for Robinson. “He is an exceptional coach who gives you the energy you need to go out and do your job. He holds everyone accountable at a higher level. His track record defensively speaks for itself. I knew it would be a match made in heaven and I wanted to perfect his coaching style. ”
Thibodo propelled Julius Randall to new heights, consistently injuring RJ Barrett and showing Robinson as a force that remains out of foul trouble, before the injury.
Thibodeau did not fare well. His habit of keeping Randall in fourth-quarter blowouts on the court is still mind-numbing – as he did on the second night of back-to-back in Detroit on Sunday. Randall must rest his bones after all the minutes of logging this season.
In addition to how Randall, Barrett and Thibodo-inspired Derrick Rose, physically still needs to play in March, April and May. Thibodo still needs to fight a reputation for wearing his top guns.
Former Nucks president Phil Jackson and Steve Mills have never been able to find the right coach – their respective downfalls. Healed daily. Boy ever has it.
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