"Everything’s important if you’re competing and you want to win. I understand that (preseason) is used as time to establish rhythms and figure out rotations or whatever it is. But that’s really not who we are," Randle said Wednesday. "Our goal is regardless of preseason or practice, whatever it is, we compete and build the right habits to win; give ourselves a chance to win every game. Preseason or not, it doesn’t matter to us."

From Thibs when talking about how much time vets got in preseason and his intensity:

"Everyone has to be themselves. There’s a lot of different ways (to coach). I’m not saying my way is for everyone. I know my way is for me," Thibodeau said Wednesday. "And everything matters to me, everything that we do. I’ve seen guys who are very successful doing it another way. That’s the beauty of this game. It’s played a lot of different ways. There’s a lot of different styles. There’s a lot of great coaches out there.

"I think for us, we’re an organization that’s building right now. We want to get established. So our fight continues every day. I love the fight in our guys."

Clean wrote:From Randle about Thibs coaching style:

"Everything’s important if you’re competing and you want to win. I understand that (preseason) is used as time to establish rhythms and figure out rotations or whatever it is. But that’s really not who we are," Randle said Wednesday. "Our goal is regardless of preseason or practice, whatever it is, we compete and build the right habits to win; give ourselves a chance to win every game. Preseason or not, it doesn’t matter to us."

From Thibs when talking about how much time vets got in preseason and his intensity:

"Everyone has to be themselves. There’s a lot of different ways (to coach). I’m not saying my way is for everyone. I know my way is for me," Thibodeau said Wednesday. "And everything matters to me, everything that we do. I’ve seen guys who are very successful doing it another way. That’s the beauty of this game. It’s played a lot of different ways. There’s a lot of different styles. There’s a lot of great coaches out there.

"I think for us, we’re an organization that’s building right now. We want to get established. So our fight continues every day. I love the fight in our guys."

I mean, you are right that Thibs said those things and then went ahead and did it. He is trying to establish his team culture and expectations.

Playing McBride and Grimes and the likes a few extra minutes in preseason games that were most likely going be in trash time wasn't gonna do anything more than satisfy some fans want to just see the guys get some playing time. You don't get much out of that type of playing, right?

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/_analyKnicks/status/1481331146126462987

Love to see that he has a back to the basket game. A little push/hook shot.

I don’t think Thibs is in preservation mode to protect his status. He is reining COY and MORE obi would not be changing for a better result on the court. Coaches are paid to win. That RJ, IQ and OBI are regular rotation guys says alot about playing yoot. That Grime has also speaks volumes.

Thibs knows the contracts and the yoot timeline. They put in the time and work hard they can earn respect but performance in practice earns minutes. Play well and earn more. A dunk is worth 2 points. The crowd loves OBI but he is not killing it on defense, play making, or shooting. He can get hot a few games its not “selling high”, every GM has tape and stats and knows what he can or cannot do. At the same time “sellng Low” is really what? We waiting for him to emerge for a few games and his value will skyrocket? I love the kid and the energy he brings to the second unit.

Thibs is fixing the first unit! we need that. .500 team is both half full and half empty.

Uptown wrote:

blkexec wrote:I know thibs wants to protect his job status so he’s playing his vets because he believes it gives him the best chance to win. But it’s overdue now. News flash we are not winning a chip this year with this roster. Thibs needs to talk to the FO and say “im playing the yoots”. “What we are looking for via trades, we already have”. Release Duece and Sims. It’s better for the Knicks if they come in next season with nba experience vs G league and practice. I bet our wins and losses will not change if you play them. They can lose close games just as good as the vets. At least knick fans will be entertained by seeing the future.

You got it twisted, I think the front office would have to say this to Thibs. Thibs only concern is winning the game in front of him.

Point taken. I thought thibs goal was to win games which he said that himself. I think at some point in the season, that goal should switch to development and winning. If we keep losing then it should go to full blown development. This is an issue I’ve had with all the knick coaches that come in here and are pressured to win games. Thibs can wait on FO or Thibs came be proactive and put these thoughts in there head.

Nalod wrote:fans want to see Deuce and OBI succeed but will not be happy watching them lose games.
Nor will the vets on the team.
Yoot has to beat the vets out for time. Duece is 21 and learning on the bench ,, spot minutes and Gleague. It is in motion.
Grimes fund his way into the rotation. Not to say Cam does not move him a bit, but thats how it goes. They are ROokies.
Obi has to hit his shots. He is not shooting well.
Obi is a “finisher”, not a playmaker. Randle is a playmaker.

I don’t think Thibs is in preservation mode to protect his status. He is reining COY and MORE obi would not be changing for a better result on the court. Coaches are paid to win. That RJ, IQ and OBI are regular rotation guys says alot about playing yoot. That Grime has also speaks volumes.

Thibs knows the contracts and the yoot timeline. They put in the time and work hard they can earn respect but performance in practice earns minutes. Play well and earn more. A dunk is worth 2 points. The crowd loves OBI but he is not killing it on defense, play making, or shooting. He can get hot a few games its not “selling high”, every GM has tape and stats and knows what he can or cannot do. At the same time “sellng Low” is really what? We waiting for him to emerge for a few games and his value will skyrocket? I love the kid and the energy he brings to the second unit.

Thibs is fixing the first unit! we need that. .500 team is both half full and half empty.

To your point, thibs is doing better than most knick coaches of the past. We hate fiz, but I liked that fact that he played knox all those mins and knox had his best year in his 4 yr career under thugs if u look at the stats. That gave atl some promise into his future. But don’t want to derail the convo. Thibs is playing the yoots, I agree. Unfortunately I was not talking about Obi. I’m talking about playing duece and sims, if we are not going anywhere. Playing the vets to make the 10th spot of the playoffs? How will that help duece and sims?

Gleague is great for the nba but they are playing against players that may not ever play in the league or journey men who’s on their way out.

martin wrote:

blkexec wrote:I know thibs wants to protect his job status so he’s playing his vets because he believes it gives him the best chance to win. But it’s overdue now. News flash we are not winning a chip this year with this roster. Thibs needs to talk to the FO and say “im playing the yoots”. “What we are looking for via trades, we already have”. Release Duece and Sims. It’s better for the Knicks if they come in next season with nba experience vs G league and practice. I bet our wins and losses will not change if you play them. They can lose close games just as good as the vets. At least knick fans will be entertained by seeing the future.

I do not think there is any disconnect or distance between this coach and FO, there is no job status to protect. The Knicks may not be winning a chip this year but making the playoffs again is incredibly valuable, all coaches and FO's talk about that. Also, I don't think the betting on wins/losses will change statement holds, just no way.

And which vets (besides Kemba) are taking away minutes from youth? Fournier? Randle? Kemba and Fournier really only play long enough when they are doing well and IQ and Grimes have been getting solid minutes as their backups. Is it Taj we don't care for that is blocking Jericho?

Bench Kemba so that IQ starts (and he has been mediocre at best at backup PG, very good as a combo scorer) and Grimes comes off bench? How does that play out? Cause it'll be loss after loss and then you lose the locker room too.

Is Randle getting too many minutes or has Thibs given him incredible leeway to show us that he CAN get better ala last year. We can definitely quibble about his minutes and getting more for Obi but ****ing A Obi gotta get into the gym and show us he can make a jumpshot so that defenses just don't ignore him on the perimeter. Or Obi do something better.

Who else is the vet that needs to sit? And when you sit them take into account you will depress their value if you want to be part of a larger trade and then also take into account OTHER vets won't take it too kindly when considering the Knicks as a destination.

All great points. We’ll need time to respond. But great points.