Tom Thibodeau and minutes are among the most infamous pairings in the NBA.
It all seemed to hit the mainstream media the day Derrick Rose tore his ACL in a 2012 playoff game. With less than two minutes in the game and Chicago up 12, Rose was still on the court, and many people blamed Thibodeau for the injury.
Since then, “Thibs” has continued to play his starters heavy minutes.
Paired with his in-game anxieties and toughness, Thibs can make his team tired or potentially hurt.
However, the Knicks need Thibs. He’s one of the best coaches and defensive minds in the sport. He is a motivator and a leader who has helped change the culture of New York Knicks basketball.
More minutes, more problems
Thibs has the Knicks playing winning basketball for the third straight season. New York is on their way to finishing in the top five in the Eastern Conference for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Despite playing so well, the team sometimes seems tired late in games.
Thibs loves playing his starters too much, even against bad teams and games where the Knicks are winning by a large margin. OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson should not see the court in the middle of the fourth quarter up 25 against the Utah Jazz.
It happens too often. The Knicks played many teams below .500 to start the 2024-25 season. Fans see the same pattern of Thibs playing starters for 35-40 minutes against these bad teams. It is unacceptable not to play rookies like Ariel Hukporti, Tyler Kolek, or 2024 first-round pick Pacome Dadiet.
Of the Knicks’ starting five this year, all of them are near the top in the league in total minutes. Mikal Bridges is number one, with over 1,592 minutes played. Josh Hart (1,500) and OG Anunoby (1,492) are right behind him.
Every team Tom Thibodeau has coached has failed to make noise in the playoffs. It is difficult for players to sustain this pace and workload over an 82-game season plus playoffs. Last season, the Knicks physically crumbled from Anunoby pulling his hamstring to Hart straining his abdomen in the playoffs.
The season is long, and Thibs needs to manage games better with his starters.
Does Tom Thibodeau have a choice this season?
New York is used to the “Thibs way” by now.
Karl-Anthony Towns was coached by him with the Timberwolves and now the Knicks. Jalen Brunson is a big advocate for Tom Thibodeau. Brunson’s dad, Rick Brunson, is one of Thibodeau’s best friends and is now a top assistant coach for New York. Despite what outsiders think of his theories, he is well-respected within the Knicks organization.
Former Knick Isaiah Hartenstein spoke glowingly of Thibodeau and his time in New York.
“A lot of people think when you’re playing with Thibs you’re also practicing every day. You’re not…You’re gonna get your off days.” Hartenstein even mentions how much deeper the Thunder are than the Knicks.
In all fairness to Thibs, the Knicks do not have the best depth on this roster. Mitchell Robinson is coming off another foot injury and has not played this season. The Knicks’ sixth man, Miles McBride, has dealt with a knee and hamstring injury to begin the year. The guards on this roster are McBride, Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet, and Tyler Kolek. Precious Achiuwa, Jericho Sims, Ariel Hukporti, and Pacome Dadiet are the forwards and centers.
This is not a flashy bench by any means. They play almost twelve minutes per game, the lowest in the NBA. However, playing this bench more might do more harm than good. Thibs still needs to find the perfect balance.
Thibodeau has to work with the players he has. This Knicks team will not add a big-time player at the deadline because of the first-apron and hard cap. New York is a talented team, but Thibs’ stubbornness and anxiety do more harm than good.
As the season progresses, we must monitor how he sets his rotations, especially with the imminent return of Mitchell Robinson.
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