ATLANTA — Tom Thibodeau is now not a determine in Pat Riley’s rearview. The Knicks’ head coach simply handed him on the street.
With Saturday’s 121-105 win over the Hawks, Thibodeau recorded his 224th victory on the helm in New York — transferring previous Riley for fourth on the franchise’s all-time teaching wins record.
He didn’t take a victory lap. He not often does. As a substitute, Thibodeau credited the individuals round him — his gamers, his workers, and the group — for making the milestone attainable.
“I’ve had a great team. I’ve got great players. It’s a great organization, so you share in all that stuff as a group,” he mentioned. “As far as Pat Riley, he’s unbelievable. Probably the best to ever do it.”
The subsequent rung on the ladder is Jeff Van Gundy, Thibodeau’s longtime pal, who sits in third place with 248 wins. Joe Lapchick is second with 326. Purple Holzman’s report of 613 — the gold customary of Knicks teaching — might stay untouched for generations.
“I was fortunate to be with Jeff, and Jeff I put up there with anybody,” Thibodeau mentioned. “Those guys had great impact on my coaching philosophy. Of course Red Holzman and all the guys that have been here. It’s an honor to be the coach here.”
Requested if he considers himself a product of Riley’s legendary teaching tree, Thibodeau supplied a self-deprecating grin.
“I’m a mutt,” he mentioned, laughing. “I’ve been around a lot of people that have had great influence on me. Obviously the head coaches, but a lot of assistant coaches have had great impact on me as well.”
He rattled off names — Ron Adams, Brendan Malone, Steve Clifford, Andy Greer, Jeff Nix, Don Chaney. And never simply them, however the individuals they realized from, too.
“Brendan Malone worked for Hubie Brown and Chuck Daly. Jeff worked for Pat Riley, Don Nelson, John MacLeod, Rick Pitino. You’re stealing from everybody,” he mentioned. “I’ve been around some of the all-time greats in the history of the game, and that’s good fortune for me.”
Thibodeau’s no-nonsense fame typically overshadows his consistency. However his present gamers see it — and respect it.
“It’s dope. It’s a tribute to the talent that he has in terms of coaching and success,” mentioned Josh Hart. “It also shows the stability the franchise has with him — and needs with him. A great accomplishment, and hopefully we keep going up.”
When requested what separates Thibodeau from different coaches he’s performed for, Hart didn’t hesitate.
“His preparation is top tier,” he mentioned. Then, with a smile: “Sometimes we’d like him to get out of the office and enjoy life a little bit. He has an amazing house, so sometimes we’d like him to at least go home and enjoy his house.
“But just the preparation, his dedication to excellence and the process — he doesn’t believe winning starts at 7:30 when the game starts. He believes winning starts in the summer.”
NO TRIPLE-DOUBLE TODAY
Hart got here inside a single rebound of recording his tenth triple-double of the season. He completed with 16 factors, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds earlier than Thibodeau subbed him out with 1:33 left within the fourth quarter.
It wasn’t a statistical oversight — it was a deliberate determination. One Thibodeau knew would come at a price both method.
“He had a terrific game,” the coach mentioned. “And obviously, for me, that’s a no-win situation. Because if I leave him in, he’s going to be upset about that. And if I take him out, he’s going to be upset about that. So I said, ‘Ah, what the hell?’ I’ll take him out.”
Hart admitted he was trying to find that final board — and possibly tried a bit too exhausting.
“That’s exactly what I was tryna do,” he mentioned with a smile. “I wanted to stay in to get the last one, but I wasn’t playing the game the right way. I was trying to play for that [triple-double]. I didn’t really deserve it, and that’s probably why I didn’t get it. I was playing the game the wrong way at that point, so it is what it is.”
LEAVE IT TO OG
The Knicks led by 27 with simply over six minutes left within the fourth quarter when Mikal Bridges deliberately fouled to get himself subbed out. He thought the bench unit would end the sport.
He thought fallacious.
As a substitute, Thibodeau took Bridges out — however reinserted OG Anunoby.
“I knew I might come back in,” he mentioned with fun. “I always want to play.”
BACK TO BACK
The Knicks wrap up their second-to-last back-to-back of the season with a Sunday matchup towards Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns at Madison Sq. Backyard.
“Try to recover the best you can, try to sleep the best you can,” Anunoby mentioned. “And in the morning, just see how it goes.”
