New York Knicks fans turned on Tom Thibodeau after the head coach got into it with guard Josh Hart.
A Saturday night road showdown with the Golden State Warriors ended in a close 97-94 defeat.
GettyJosh Hart didn’t score a point against the Warriors[/caption]
With New York trailing 84-75 late in the fourth, Thibodeau and Hart were seen screaming at each other during a timeout.
It isn’t clear what triggered the explosive row that became a focal point on ESPN but Hart scored zero points in 39 minutes as Steph Curry dropped 28 to inspire a victory.
Thibodeau tried to shrug off the argument in the post-match press conference.
“There was a clip…you and Josh kinda exchanging words…” Knicks reporter Fred Katz asked.
“Aw, yeah, I love Josh, you guys know that. Just whatever can get us going, just try to get us going,” Thibodeau responded.
Katz described the confrontation as a ‘passionate moment’. Thibodeau replied: “Yeah, that’s it.”
Fans are growing increasingly concerned with Thibodeau and many called for the front office to make a big call.
“Tibs needs to go,” one wrote on X.
“This is my first time seeing this, and I’m starting to side with the FIRE Thibs people,” added a second. “Stuck with him all the way till this year – he’s too emotional and cries too much – we get zero respect from the refs because of all that crying.”
“Worst coach in the league. Runs all his players down,” noted a third.
GettyThibodeau insisted that there was no rift in the locker room[/caption]
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges has admitted that he asked his coach to give the starters more rest.
“Sometimes it’s not fun on the body,” Bridges told the New York Post before Wednesday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers. “But you want that as a coach, and also talked to him a little bit knowing that we’ve got a good enough team where our bench guys can come in and we don’t need to play 48 [minutes].
“We’ve got a lot of good guys on this team that can take away minutes. Which helps the defense, helps the offense, helps tired bodies being out there and giving up all these points. It helps just keeping fresh bodies out there.”
Bridges leads the NBA in total minutes played this season.
His 37.8 minutes per game are second only to teammate Hart (37.9). OG Anunoby ranks sixth and with Jalen Brunson potentially out until April, there seems to be little chance of a change.
Thibodeau played all his starters at least 38 minutes in an overtime win over the Trail Blazers.
Four logged over 38 minutes against the Warriors, with Karl-Anthony Towns managing 30.
Hart also played down his clash with Thibodeau after the loss, insisting he was loyal to the coach.
ESPN announcers Richard Jefferson added some additional context.
“For everybody watching … look, you’re struggling, you’re short, you’re down on the road. Yeah, everyone should be fired up,” Jefferson said. “That is 100 per cent normal.
“If you’re happy about where you are right now as a team, you’re not a true competitor.”
The Knicks are third in the Eastern Conference with a 42-24 record despite falling to the Warriors but need to avoid a fractured locker room and exhausted players heading into the playoffs.
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With the NBA hurtling towards playoff season next month, there’s plenty riding on the remaining games.
Reigning champions the Boston Celtics are chasing back-to-back titles, and will be the first team to do this since 2018 if they’re successful.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and Luka Dončić’s Lakers are looking to win LA’s first championship since 2020.
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