Thibs rigidity and unwillingness to recognize player data (eg Mitch's +/- was off charts and still played KAT at times when defense was essential)

Thibs overplaying starters and not utilizing the bench. A complaint for years that was reinforced when he finally went to bench in game 5

Knicks preferring to keep KAT and wanting either more offensive creativity, and/or needing to shift defensive schemes which Thibs wouldn't/couldn't do

Damn.

DLeethal wrote:I will forever love Thibs for dragging us out of the gutter but I can understand the move. This leads to believe they want to run it back and maximize Towns but who knows at this point.

Give credit to Thibs but personnel wise we were heading in the right direction before he even got here. Drafted Mitch, RJ, IQ, Obi was a miss but still a useful player. Signed Randle. Thibs did a great job but I think had Mike Miller stayed on we probably still make the playoffs 2021 season. Kenny Atkinson also would have gotten the same results he killed it in Cleveland this year.

Budenholzer obviously had all world Giannis but if you're really honest about it there wasn't even a big two, let alone a big three. He had lots of really good players but only one all NBA as far as I recall. He was also successful in Atlanta with completely different style of play, and again FWIW has those SAS roots where they often seem a step ahead of the competition

Malone also had all world Joker. But next best player was Murray. Obviously a lot to like but we're not talking Warriors in their prime or Heat with Lebron.

They should both be serious, respectable candidates.

I have a tough time imagining Leon rolls the dice with J.Bryant. Thought he was great here, but they'd have balls of steel firing Thibs after ECF to give it to Bryant

Again just have to imagine Leon liked his KAT acquisition more than Thibs did, and must have felt that was the best way forward. E.g., trying to get Giannis or KD unless it's straight up just exacerbates a depth problem if Knicks have to throw in other talent.

Really feel for Thibs though.

martin wrote:

Knicksfan wrote:I think this means that Rose has someone in mind who could’ve been hired by Phoenix before they had a chance.

Bryant coming home?!

Make it so. I thought he was heir apparent until he left

Chandler wrote:FWIW Malone and Budenholzer have each won championships without dream teams. Actually doing it is always worth something

Budenholzer obviously had all world Giannis but if you're really honest about it there wasn't even a big two, let alone a big three. He had lots of really good players but only one all NBA as far as I recall. He was also successful in Atlanta with completely different style of play, and again FWIW has this SAS roots where they often seem a step ahead of the competition

Malone also had all work Joker. But next best player was Murray. Obviously a lot to like but we're not talking Warriors in their prime or Heat with Lebron.

They should both be serious, respectable candidates.

I have a tough time imagining Leon rolls the dice with J.Bryant. Thought he was great here, but they's have balls of steel firing Thibs after ECF to give it to Bryant

Again just have to imagine Leon liked his KAT acquisition more than Thibs did, and must have felt that was the best way forward. E.g., trying to get Giannis or KD unless it's straight up just exacerbates a depth problem if Knicks have to throw in other talent.

Really feel for Thibs though.

Pure speculation
Maybe there was an exit interview/meeting with Thibs and he expressed concern that KAT can't play defense at the championship level... they just acquired him and felt it was Thibs job to teach him and they weren't going to move him?

jskinny35 wrote:

Chandler wrote:FWIW Malone and Budenholzer have each won championships without dream teams. Actually doing it is always worth something

Budenholzer obviously had all world Giannis but if you're really honest about it there wasn't even a big two, let alone a big three. He had lots of really good players but only one all NBA as far as I recall. He was also successful in Atlanta with completely different style of play, and again FWIW has this SAS roots where they often seem a step ahead of the competition

Malone also had all work Joker. But next best player was Murray. Obviously a lot to like but we're not talking Warriors in their prime or Heat with Lebron.

They should both be serious, respectable candidates.

I have a tough time imagining Leon rolls the dice with J.Bryant. Thought he was great here, but they's have balls of steel firing Thibs after ECF to give it to Bryant

Again just have to imagine Leon liked his KAT acquisition more than Thibs did, and must have felt that was the best way forward. E.g., trying to get Giannis or KD unless it's straight up just exacerbates a depth problem if Knicks have to throw in other talent.

Really feel for Thibs though.

Pure speculation
Maybe there was an exit interview/meeting with Thibs and he expressed concern that KAT can't play defense at the championship level... they just acquired him and felt it was Thibs job to teach him and they weren't going to move him?

I hope thats not the case, because KAT's defense IS a big problem. So I hope we didnt merely pick KAT over Thibs.

Philc1 wrote:

MaTT4281 wrote:This terrifies me...

Damn.

Gotta bad feeling this is the precursor of a KAT for KD swap. Yuck.