New York Knicks: 5 Long-Term Replacements For Derek Fisher
1. Tom Thibodeau
Tom Thibodeau remains the best available candidate for any NBA team with a coaching vacancy. Whether you’re talking about a rebuilding team or a team that already has talent, the defense and complete culture change that Thibs would bring is exactly what any NBA organization should want.
Thibodeau’s shortcomings with the Chicago Bulls have been well covered by now. He runs his starters into the ground, he doesn’t use his bench enough, he isn’t a good enough diagrammer on the offensive end, yada yada yada. If the Knicks are smart, they’ll abandon their dedication to the Triangle and commit to whatever it takes to win games.
Why wouldn't NYK just throw $30-35 mill at Thibs? Is it too late? It's not like Rambis is a stealth tanking hire (no 1st rounder for them).
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 8, 2016
With a switch in philosophy like that, Thibs would make the most sense. Unfortunately, it feels very unlikely Jackson will abandon his stubborn allegiance to the Triangle, especially when options like Walton and Shaw who would follow his orders may be readily available.
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Tom Thibodeau would be able to work wonders with New York’s defense, and though there’d be concerns about him riding a 31-year-old Carmelo Anthony too hard, he’d be the best option to re-establish a winning culture. Unfortunately, right now it feels like the Knicks care more about finding a coach to fit their schemes than just finding the best coach who can win games.