DECLINE Thibodeau’s signature defense failing just as Knicks need it most
What has happened to Tom Thibodeau’s vaunted defense?
Yes, the Knicks’ offense has been humming at high levels for this franchise, but the coach’s specialty is lagging this season — especially lately.
The Knicks were 17th in defensive efficiency heading into Friday’s NBA schedule, a ranking even worse than during last season’s plunge to the draft lottery.
They’ve been mostly roasted on 3-pointers, allowing the third-most treys in the NBA before Friday. It’s a product of Thibodeau’s system — which is built to protect the paint while leaving the Knicks susceptible to kick-out passes to the 3-point line — but lately the scheme is backfiring.
“Their general disposition is to stop the ball with off-ball defenders being in and forcing kickouts,” an NBA coach said. “That is why they’re giving up a high number of 3s.”
Some of it is as simple as teams are finally burying their open 3-pointers. But there are other factors, too. RJ Barrett and Julius Randle have been below-average defenders with inconsistent effort. Opponents are involving the Knicks centers in more pick-and-rolls, which makes it difficult to hide weak defenders in rotations. With the starting lineup, those weak defenders are easy to find: Randle, Barrett and Jalen Brunson.
And if the ball moves around enough, they’re out of position.
There’s also the issue of tired legs amid a grueling stretch of schedule over the last eight games, with the Knicks taking two road trips during that stretch while finishing 3-5.
“Guys look mentally fatigued,” a scout said.
Luckily, on that last note, there is an imminent solution. The Knicks have three off days before the next game Monday at home against the Rockets.
HOT-HEADED JULIUS
Thibodeau minimized Randle’s latest angry outburst — which spilled into a snippy moment directed at a teammate – by likening it to a personality quirk.
“You allow for idiosyncrasies, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of winning,” Thibodeau explained to reporters. “Nothing can get in the way of winning.”
For years, Thibodeau has danced around Randle’s penchant for tantrums, often declining to address it as something other than a team-based generality. A ‘we’ instead of ‘he.’
“It’s a long season,” Thibodeau added about Randle’s explosion after the Knicks lost their third straight Thursday to the Magic. “We have to do better.”
In the latest incident, Randle started by arguing with a referee. He was persistent and picked up a technical for a third straight game, which proved at least semi-consequential in a game decided over the final minutes.
After Randle was ejected from a game for berating a ref in December, Thibodeau remarked that his teammates need to do a better job of restraining their top player. But when Immanuel Quickley attempted it Thursday night in Orlando, the guard was promptly shouted down with hostility by Randle.
The tantrums were a major issue for Randle last season. Despite a pledge to bring a cooler head to this campaign, it hasn’t stopped. If anything, he’s gotten worse as the season progressed.