With Tom Thibodeau as their coach, the New York Knicks will be making their way to the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. The issue with this team, however, is that they have not been able to make it past the second round in any of those playoff appearances. If they fail to make it past the 2nd round again this year, will it be time to let go of Thibodeau as head coach?
The Knicks are coming off a 124-105 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. New York was hot in the 1st half, leading the Cavs by double digits at one point. They seemed to take their foot off the gas in the second half and ended up getting blown out as a result of this. The Knicks are now a brutal 0-6 against the top two seeds in the East, which are the Celtics and the Cavaliers. They still have one more game against each team, so it will be interesting to see if they will be able to get one win against either of them before the end of the season.
The Knicks have not made the Conference Finals in their last three playoff appearances. They were eliminated by Trae Young and the Hawks in five games in 2021. They were beaten by a Miami Heat team that made the finals in 2023 in six games. Then, they lost last year to Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers in a seven-game series. If they don’t make it past the second round this year, and it looks like they might not, what is next for them?
If the Knicks fail to get past the second round this year, or if they get bounced in the first round, it is likely that they will move on from Thibodeau as their head coach. Injuries, being gassed, and lack of playoff experience can be the excuses as to why they have not been able to advance in their past appearances. At what point do the Knicks and their front office realize maybe Thibodeau isn’t the coach to help bring a championship to New York?
Tom Thibodeau is a solid coach and has helped to play a part in this cultural turnaround for the Knicks franchise over the past few years. It isn’t crazy to also say that maybe he isn’t the type of coach to help the Knicks secure the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season. Given how stubborn he can be to change up his rotation or his schemes, there might not be much time left for Thibodeau in New York. Especially if they don’t make it past the second round again.
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