Official '24-25 NY Knicks Offseason Thread
- Thread starter DPresidential
- Start date
ISO
Pass me the rock nikka
I talked about it in other threads where coaches on other teams are fired.You wouldn't even have mentioned this if Thibs didn't get fired. Look at the account that made that as well. It's a meme account.
The page post memes doesn’t mean inaccurate information.
Coaches being fired after COY and even winning championships
Wargames
One Of The Last Real Ones To Do It
Bro Dolan didnt do this. Low key him being in those meeting was Leon setting the scene for Dolan to give the ok because he owes Thibs $30 million.
Spidey Man
Superstar
Yeah. I'm sure Dolan was looking forward to lighting 30 million on fire after the best season this century. Nice guy, great coach, but he's just another employee who did not meet his boss's expectations.
Wargames
One Of The Last Real Ones To Do It
Leon fired Thibs but based on that salary Dolan has to be part of the decision and give the final OK.
storyteller
Veteran
Scratch any hope for KD. No way the Knicks are outbidding 4-6 teams. The hoops-head in me wants to see a KD and Wemby combo.
seemorecizzy
Superstar
KD can go to hell fam
seemorecizzy
Superstar
A lot of shyt going on behind the scenes with this version of the knicks. There was barely any drama last season
That’s what’s upsetting. Can’t believe that nothing happened behind the scenes last season but nothing leaked either. The main difference is KAT and Mikal. I find it hard to believe Mikal would throw Rick Brunson under the bus like that though. Even if he had a problem with him…
ISO
Pass me the rock nikka
Most people wouldn’t have had the Knicks going as far as they did so much for expectations.
U can critique Thibs and what he did or didn’t do but at the end of the day it’s a process.
This season was different than the one prior and next year would be a different too.
Spidey Man
Superstar
NY sportswriters popping bottles. Long playoff run ending in heartbreak leading into locker room drama. It must feel like Christmas
F*ck KD.
He's at the end of his career and he sh!tted on the Knicks in the past.
Any Knicks fan that wants him here is an idiot.
He's at the end of his career and he sh!tted on the Knicks in the past.
Any Knicks fan that wants him here is an idiot.
Strategic Basketball Reasons for Firing Tom Thibodeau1. Lack of Offensive Spacing and Floor Balance
• Poor spacing principles were a constant issue, hurting both offense and transition defense.
• Players often stood in the wrong spots (e.g., strong-side dunker spot instead of weak side), leading to:
◦ Clogged driving lanes
◦ Poor floor balance, resulting in being outnumbered in transition
• Bad spacing directly contributed to losing the Pacers series, where transition defense failures were decisive.
Consequence: Easy to guard in half-court + vulnerable to fast breaks.2. Overuse of Starters Led to Bad Habits and Fatigue
• Thibs played top players heavy minutes all season in the name of playoff conditioning.
• Resulted in:
◦ Fatigue and disengagement on defense
◦ Poor attention to detail
◦ Reinforced bad in-game habits
• When adversity hit (e.g., Game 6 vs Indiana), the team reverted to undisciplined habits instead of fundamental execution.
Consequence: No in-season development of bench; stars worn down; no foundation to fall back on in crisis.3. Lack of Offensive Variety and Player Involvement
• Offense was overly Brunson-centric and static.
• Did not fully leverage the multi-faceted skill sets of players like:
◦ OG Anunoby
◦ Mikal Bridges
◦ Carl Anthony Towns
• In contrast to the Pacers' modern five-out system, the Knicks ran:
◦ Fewer actions
◦ Less side-to-side ball movement
◦ Little adaptability or rhythm-building for secondary scorers
Consequence: Predictable offense, stalling possessions, and underutilization of talent.4. Poor Defensive Habits and Execution
• Team’s defensive breakdowns were structural, not just personnel-related.
• Example: Carl Anthony Towns was exposed not only for physical limitations but for:
◦ Consistently bad positioning
◦ Poor instincts
◦ No accountability from the coaching staff
• Lack of help defense rotation discipline and floor awareness persisted all year.
Consequence: No reliable defensive identity despite having athletes and switchable wings.5. Inflexibility and Lack of Tactical Adjustment
• Thibodeau’s rigid approach did not evolve with the team’s changing talent profile.
• Didn’t lean into:
◦ Aggregate playmaking
◦ Ball movement
◦ Positionless spacing and pace concepts
• Missed opportunities to:
◦ Develop bench depth
◦ Run diverse offensive sets
◦ Match opponents' modern schemes (e.g., Thunder, Pacers, Celtics)
Consequence: Knicks were behind tactically despite being talented.====
What the Knicks Need From Their New Head CoachTo move from playoff-caliber to true championship contender, the Knicks' next coach must deliver in two key areas:
1. A Coach Who Hunts Margins (a “Low-Hanging Fruit” Specialist)
The NBA is increasingly won in the margins — subtle, detail-driven advantages that compound over time. The Knicks need a coach who maximizes the little things that don’t require elite talent, just commitment and structure.
Key Margins the Coach Must Prioritize:• Transition defense structure
◦ Ensure proper floor balance after every possession so players are in position to recover on defense.
• Turnover discipline
◦ Emphasize possessions that end in a shot, not a turnover — limit fast-break opportunities for opponents.
• Offensive rebounding vs. defensive balance
◦ Teach when to crash and when to get back, maintaining pressure without sacrificing defense.
• Pace and conditioning for tempo advantage
◦ Push opportunistically in transition to generate 6–8 “free” points per game.
• Closeout technique and rotation timing
◦ Drill defensive fundamentals so players instinctively cover for each other on kick-outs and switches.
Why it matters: These are non-talent-dependent wins — they can be trained, scaled across the roster, and sustain a team during cold shooting nights or injuries.2. Build an Offense Around Equal Opportunity Principles
Thibodeau’s Knicks leaned heavily on Jalen Brunson-centric, ISO-heavy play. That caps your ceiling. The next coach must build a system that empowers all five players — especially since this roster has multiple creators.
System Design Priorities:• Modern 5-out spacing principles
◦ Use the full width of the floor; have shooters and playmakers at all levels (corners, wings, top).
• Multiple actions per possession
◦ No more “one-action, one-pass” sets. Flow from initial pick-and-rolls into secondary motion or handoffs.
• Keep everyone engaged
◦ Touches and reads for OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, even Carl Anthony Towns — not just Brunson.
• Read-and-react dynamics
◦ Allow players to make quick decisions based on how the defense reacts (like Indiana or Denver).
• Balance Brunson’s usage with movement
◦ Use Brunson as a trigger, not a crutch. Let others initiate to keep defenses honest and Brunson fresh.
Why it matters: This turns the Knicks from a “top-down” offense into a fluid, matchup-proof attack. It also builds rhythm for all players, especially in high-pressure playoff moments.3. Maximizing the Aggregate Offensive Talent
The Knicks have:
• Jaylen Brunson – elite half-court scorer
• Mikal Bridges – capable PnR initiator
• OG Anunoby – bully mismatches
• Carl Anthony Towns – pick-and-pop sniper, post mismatch option
• Josh Hart / Quickley / Deuce McBride – connective, versatile wings
This isn't a team that needs to create stars — it needs a coach who knows how to:
• Recognize the collective playmaking potential
• Craft schemes that rotate usage based on matchups
• Build habits through consistent ball/player movement
• Teach players how to read the defense, not just run scripted sets
Big risk with wrong coach: This level of talent can be wasted in a rigid or ISO-dominant scheme. Marginalizing multiple creators turns a 5-man weapon into a 1.5-man show.
Last edited:
ISO
Pass me the rock nikka
Any one who doesn’t want a Hall of Famer coming off 27/6/4 on 53/43/84 splits, who averaged 1.16 (!) points per possession in isolation is an idiot. He fixes a lot for us on both sides of the ball.
To save who? Mikal fukking Bridges, Anunoby, KAT
Get out yo feelings
Knicksman20
Superstar
This guy's breakdowns have been posted here in the past & this is just as good:
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