Why Should The Knicks Extend Tom Thibodeau?
The New York Knicks are on the verge of doing something special in the playoffs, and that's thanks to head coach Tom Thibodeau. It may be time for the team to enter a conversation with Thibodeau about a possible contract extension.
After all, New York has been impressive even without their stars in the lineup this season. The Knicks boast a 42-28 record while also appearing to head to the playoffs as a top-five seed for the second straight season.
Another important thing to note is that it would mark the first time the Knicks have made three consecutive playoff runs, since the 2011 to 2013 run. New York managed to win a postseason series for the first time since 2013 last year.
Since his arrival in New York, Thibodeau owns a 167-139 record.
Thibs Transitioned The Knicks To One of The Best Defensive Teams
Before the arrival of Thibodeau, the Knicks were one of the worst teams on the defensive end. However, that all changed under his leadership. Thibodeau played a significant role in acquiring talent that would eventually help the Knicks' defense.
One notable move he contributed to was the acquisition of OG Anunoby. That move changed the dynamic of the Knicks team moving forward. The defensive ratings started to improve drastically (by 19.6 points per 100 possessions) following that big trade.
The Knicks Can Be Legitimate Contenders For The Foreseeable Future
There is no doubt that having Thibodeau as the head coach for the long term makes New York title contenders for the near future.
Even if the team does not make it to the NBA Finals this season, there will still be something to be proud of about this team. And that is progress. We saw a lot of guys who improved and stepped up when needed.
One example is Josh Hart. This season, the Knicks were impressed with the way Hart stepped up when needed. Taking advantage of the increase in minutes, he put up multiple triple-doubles.
Then there's Jalen Brunson.
Brunson has looked like a legitimate MVP candidate. In 65 games played this season, he has averaged 27.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. Those numbers just show that Brunson has been a monster when he's on the floor. If he can continue to play at that level, look out for the Knicks to become a dangerous team once the playoffs arrive.
On FanDuel Sportsbook, the Knicks currently have the third-best odds (+1100) in the Eastern Conference to make the NBA Finals.
More Knicks coverage:
feed
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.