I suspect they're eyeing Budenholzer or Malone -- someone who has better ideas about how to exploit all world-shooting big man.
Have to imagine Leon was thinking the KAT acquisition was great and didn't like the ideas of staggering or trading
might have also been frustrated with seeing team experiment with lineups for the first time during playoffs instead of during season against weaker teams
Truly sucks for Thibs. Did great things, the right way and was a class act
I mean listen, you can disagree with Thibs on alot of things, and it's clear we didn't maximize this roster. But he gave his all, like everything to this team and the NBA. And even if stubborn, he knew who could play and who couldn't and he helped developed our youngins like no other coach in recent memory.
Knicksfan wrote:martin wrote:Knicksfan wrote:I think this means that Rose has someone in mind who could’ve been hired by Phoenix before they had a chance.
Bryant coming home?!
Not gonna lie, I think it might be him. He was so respected by the team before moving on this year. And he might be more into the “New NBA” than Thibs, which might be another point that moved them to this decision.
I don’t see a move like this to actually bring another old school coach like Malone, although I might be wrong. I think this is about winning a championship as much as about adapting to the new NBA. Doing it so quickly might point at the Phoenix candidates.
I agree with you on the Mike Malone old school thing, he is like Thibs twin in terms of manor. No idea on his coaching.
I also wonder if Leon is going to be aggressive this summer, more than just the coach, and this was part of it (Durant, Giannis or whatever).
at the same time, hard to argue with what Leon has done here. Outside of the Obi pick he's been really on point.
Ultimately its likely that game 1 did Thibs in, you just can't lose a game in such a manner, and that probably cost us a trip to the finals.
I feel for Thibs, he poured everything into this franchise and bought us back, sucks that if we win a chip, he won't be here for it.
nycericanguy wrote:wow... didnt see this coming. not sure what to think. Why extend him just to fire him after? Thought he deserved 1 more year at least.Clearly they read the room though, who knows what was happening behind closed doors.
Don’t think they planned to fire him when they extended him, but they considered it earned even if they had to. He did earn it.
very strange. Just gave him 3 years. I hope they know what the are doing. I dont like this at all but Leon has pulled all the right strings.
Huge props to Thibs. Literally built this thing from Fizdale's ashes
SupremeCommander wrote:I hate it
There was probably stuff going on behind the scenes all season. Benching Mitch the almost the entire second half of game 6 after he kept us in the game first half probably locked it up.
I will forever love Thibs for dragging us out of the gutter but I can understand the move. This leads to believe they want to run it back and maximize Towns but who knows at this point.
nycericanguy wrote:Ultimately its likely that game 1 did Thibs in, you just can't lose a game in such a manner, and that probably cost us a trip to the finals.
Game 6 was even worse because Mitch had a stellar first half and we were down only 4 at halftime. Mitch started the third quarter then went to the bench where he sat and sat until late 4th qtr when the game was already over.
fishmike wrote:very strange. Just gave him 3 years. I hope they know what the are doing. I dont like this at all but Leon has pulled all the right strings.Huge props to Thibs. Literally built this thing from Fizdale's ashes
I think they go after Malone. He has won a championship recently and already has ties to the organization
DLeethal wrote:I will forever love Thibs for dragging us out of the gutter but I can understand the move. This leads to believe they want to run it back and maximize Towns but who knows at this point.
who are they gonna get that's a better fit than Thibs? Malone? Atkinson was everyone's darling and was sent packing in embarrassing fashion.
I don’t Johnny Byrant gets the job it might be too difficult for him to handle all this pressure in nyc. My guess is probably Taylor Jenkins or Mike Malone.
martin wrote:Leon is ice cold. Didn't think he had THIS in him.
This....im shocked!
I have 3 (obvious) takes on Thibs firing...
Thibs rigidity and unwillingness to recognize player data (eg Mitch's +/- was off charts and still played KAT at times when defense was essential)
Thibs overplaying starters and not utilizing the bench. A complaint for years that was reinforced when he finally went to bench in game 5
Knicks preferring to keep KAT and wanting either more offensive creativity, and/or needing to shift defensive schemes which Thibs wouldn't/couldn't do
