CHARLESTON, SC — Final season’s avalanche of accidents, which was in all probability the primary purpose the Knicks succumbed within the second spherical to the Pacers, will not encourage Tom Thibodeau to undertake a brand new body-saving philosophy.
“Each workforce has accidents. You simply should deal with it,” the Knicks coach stated Wednesday when requested if there may be a strategic change this yr to forestall accidents. “It is a part of skilled sports activities. So, some years, you don’t have any accidents, others do. No matter your actuality, you face it.
Thibodeau by no means subscribed to load administration or common season video games to relaxation. If a participant is wholesome, he’s anticipated to put on his swimsuit.
The distribution of Thibodeau’s minutes was additionally extra oriented in direction of its finest gamers than most NBA groups, with the Knicks ending second in beginning minutes per recreation with 165.1, behind the Bulls, in response to StatMuse.
As Thibodeau talked about, accidents have not been a significant subject throughout his first three campaigns as Knicks coach. Among the many common starters, solely Mitchell Robinson missed important time.
Final season was a hit.
4 starters – Robinson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson – had surgical procedures. Randle, Anunoby and Robinson every missed at the very least 25 video games.
Collectively, they missed 24 playoff video games.
Robinson nonetheless hasn’t recovered and can sit till at the very least December, in all probability longer.
The circumstances bolstered criticism of Thibodeau’s venture. all-in-one philosophy, on a regular basisa repute that led him to turn into the three-time reigning champion of The Athletic’s participant ballot query: “Which coach would you not need to play for?”
Regardless of the outward repute and barrage of accidents final season, Thibodeau’s anti-load administration stance has been supported by his Knicks gamers and at the very least one in all them — Josh Hart — stated Wednesday that he did not change both.
“It’s as much as the media to sit down there and cry,” Hart stated. “I’ll by no means go right into a recreation pondering I’ve to tempo myself or not play as exhausting as I’m speculated to. In the end, I’m going out for each recreation I play, I pray to my Lord and Savior for defense, and I’m going out and play that recreation as exhausting as I can. …I am not afraid of burning out or taking a break day.
At 29, Hart is the oldest participant within the Knicks rotation but in addition among the many most sturdy. Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Cities are the most important harm considerations.
And with the blockbuster commerce that left Donte DiVincenzo and Randle, the Knicks have misplaced somewhat depth – or harm insurance coverage.
On this topic, Thibodeau deserted his hackneyed method of “I fear about all the pieces”.
He’s assured on the bench and clearly is not going to vary the teaching strategy to preserving wholesome our bodies.
“I’m not anxious about our depth. I truly actually like our bench,” the coach stated. “In the event you have a look at the issues our guys have completed, and I am not precisely positive who it may be, however Landry [Shamet] was a part of a workforce that carried out at a excessive degree, Cam [Payne] is a part of a workforce that has gained at a excessive degree, Deuce [McBride] has given us so much throughout this era. Treasured [Achiuwa] performed in lots of huge video games for us. After which one of many starters shall be there with them. So I believe our bench goes to be an enormous asset for us.
