Welcome to the first Fan Mailbag for the KFTV Newsletter on BeeHiiv:
Why in the hell is Thibs not using the bench like he should? We’re not going anywhere with him at the helm. He’s going to wear them down until the wheels fall off, which is not good at all. Why don’t [we] bring in Mark Jackson as the coach? I guarantee that if they do, they will bring home the trophy.
Geoff: Thibs is using his bench. If you go back and check the majority of the lineups since the MLK game versus the Atlanta Hawks, Thibs has been using 9 players in his rotation. I think a fairer and more accurate criticism of Thibs is which individual players he decides to give a chance or include in his rotations. You could make a decent argument that either Tyler Kolek or Ariel Hukporti should’ve been getting some minutes before injuries made it necessary for them to get minutes. In regards to Mark Jackson, and I’m trying to nice here, I couldn’t disagree more, sorry bud.
Jalen: Mark Jackson will probably never coach in the NBA again. The Warriors replaced him and went on a historic run. I don’t think Thibs is the championship coach the Knicks need, but the Knicks’ starting lineup has been generally very healthy, including oft-injured KAT and OG. It’s also hard to watch Landry Shamet and Precious Achiuwa sometimes, and Cam Payne is hit-or-miss game-to-game. There are reasons he leans on the starting five.
Now, I think a better coach would’ve sprinkled in Kolek, Hukporti, and Dadiet in more often throughout the season and let them soak up low-stakes minutes. I wish Thibs didn’t consider winning and player development as opposites. One might even accelerate the other in a strong culture like New York’s.
*This question was submitted before Tyler Kolek joined the rotation. Hope you like what you see so far.
I’m sick of the fire Thibs talk. Can you please go over who would even be available as head coach if Thibs was dismissed? Doesn’t seem like the candidate pool would be the best. The grass isn’t always greener…
Geoff: This is a great question. People love to tar and feather Teflon Tom, but rarely provide a list of names of competent coaches who could succeed him. These days, the young assistant head coaches are usually the most popular candidates. Maybe Mitch Johnson, who has impressed some as the interim head coach for the Spurs. I know others have been impressed with Sam Cassell and believe he should get a head coaching opportunity.
Others have recently proposed that maybe Erik Spoelstra’s days with the Miami Heat could be numbered. Would he be interested in NY? Ultimately, I think a veteran coach who has been through some playoff battles would be the best candidate for the job if Thibs is relieved of his duties.
When/if Thibbs is dismissed - who are the legitimate coaching candidates to replace him? Would Johnnie Bryant be an option? He’s the top assistant on the # 1 Cavs and I’ve noticed a huge difference in the offensive play calling since he’s departed with more talent available. Thoughts?
Omar: If Thibs is dismissed this offseason (don’t think he will be for the record), it would be for a more forward-thinking offensive coach to maximize the talent on the roster. Johnnie Bryant is the name a lot of people will clamor for because he already has the relationship with this Knicks front office, which would help. I also think that Sam Cassell is an option because of the success that he has had as Boston’s lead assistant.
A dark horse candidate to me would also be Will Hardy if the experiment ends with him in Utah. I think he is a very bright basketball mind tucked away in a situation of perpetual tanking.
I and a lot of Knicks nation were really agitated by Knicks players looking soft and being friendly to Draymond after his heated matchup with Towns and a tough loss. Do you feel there is carryover from this in the locker room and do the Knicks need a stronger killer instinct/identity to compete for the chip?
Geoff: I’ll be honest, if it was me, I would be upset. It’s not like everybody has to get into a fight with Draymond, but based on the way he disrespected KAT and then refused to apologize, I think it was a little out of order to be so “chummy” with Draymond after the game. That being said, the NBA today is a very different league. People don’t really beef, and most of these players have known each other for years playing in AAU. Just a sign of the times.
Omar: There is a generation of Knicks fans that for about 15 years watched the Knicks get in fights almost nightly. It became a part of the identity, which was kind of instilled from Pat Riley. So I think those fans want a sort of Us vs. The World attitude. It has been well acknowledged that today’s players are not like that.
That being said, it’s not a great look that the team dapped up Draymond after the comments he made and how he doubled down. I’m sure that Towns didn’t like it, but he has also matured quite a bit since his early Minnesota days, so I think they hashed it out. In terms of toughness needed for a chip, I think that is a real concern for this team. They need something of an edge to get to the next level in my opinion.
Part 2 of our mailbag Q&A is on the way.
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