Things are spiraling out of control for the New York Knicks as they head into the All-Star break. They are riding a three-game losing streak and the team’s record is 25-34. They are now 3.5 games out of a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament as this season is quickly going down the drain.
What makes it even more frustrating is that the organization doesn’t seem to be on the same page from top to bottom. Last season, when they went on their unexpected run, earning the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, everything was clicking. This season, outside of the 5-1 start, we haven’t seen that same hunger or level of play from the team.
New York is just a few tweaks away from being squarely in the mix not only for a spot in the Play-In Tournament but in the top six and safely in the postseason. The Knicks were one game above the .500 mark following a win over the Atlanta Hawks on January 15th. Since that point, they have gone 3-13 and a lot of the blame is being shifted onto head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Thibodeau’s resistance to altering his rotation and game plans is something that is already beginning to wear on the fan base. His stubbornness is something that usually leads to him being run out of town, but to have the full Thibodeau experience occur in this short period of time is shocking.
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Firing a head coach after he won Coach of the Year in the previous season sounds unheard of, but that is the point the Knicks have reached. Something has to give when it comes to him, otherwise, changes will have to be made.
New York has blown a 21+ lead three times in the last 11 days alone. Usually, after that happens once, as it did on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers, some adjustments would be made. To see it happen again, this time a 23-point lead, on the same road trip a week later against a Portland Trail Blazers team that traded away multiple starters is head-scratching.
But, it occurred a third time on Wednesday night, this time a 28-point lead evaporating, on national television at Madison Square Garden against the Brooklyn Nets, is truly mind-blowing and could be grounds for a change. At some point, the coaching staff is responsible for the atrocities being witnessed on the court.
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Given the record that the Knicks have, it is frustrating that Thibodeau hasn’t deviated from his game plan at all. He remains reliant on veterans despite the numerous examples of them not winning games.
Taj Gibson playing more minutes than Cam Reddish and Obi Toppin combined against the Nets is unacceptable. Given the lack of production at the point guard spot, there is no reason someone like Miles McBride doesn’t get a chance to play.
Kemba Walker is a shell of himself, while Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickley are not point guards. They are doing the best with the role that Thibodeau is forcing upon them, but they find much more success when they are playing off the ball as secondary ball-handlers and playmakers.
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McBride has been dominant in the G League but hasn’t received a real chance with the Knicks other than when they were crushed by COVID-19. His energy defensively would offset any struggles he has running the offense, but at least he has experience playing point guard.
When RJ Barrett returns from his injury, the rotation will be even more congested as youngsters Quentin Grimes and Reddish could see their minutes cut drastically. If that occurs and things do not change after the All-Star break rotation-wise, Thibodeau could very well be let go before the season ends.
