Tom Thibodeau is getting the brunt of the criticism for the New York Knicks’ elimination. Kendrick Perkins has blamed him for being the reason behind the loss.
The New York Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games. It is a tough result for the Knicks, especially when everyone knows they could have won it.
It was a difficult series because the Knicks controlled Game 1, but blew a 17-point lead. The Knicks clawed their way back, but the Pacers won. This led to many criticisms against Tom Thibodeau, including some from Kendrick Perkins.
Across six games, the Pacers’ lowest point total was in Game 5 when they scored 94. The Knicks played solid defense in that game and the Game 3 win. Unfortunately, those were the only standout defensive performances.
In Indiana’s four wins in the series, they averaged 126.5 points per game. That is unsustainable for any defense. Of course, the Pacers have a strong offense led by Tyrese Haliburton, but the Knicks could have defended better.
Perkins’ primary point was that Thibodeau struggled with adjustments. Based on the numbers, Perkins was correct because the Pacers feasted on the Knicks’ defense. It looked like the Knicks were overconfident throughout the series.
Karl-Anthony Towns was a big part of the defensive issues because Thibodeau instructed him to play drop coverage. For a team like Indiana that has Haliburton as the ball-handler, that is too much space to work with.
“Towns in the drop coverage was open season for Pacers. Knicks transition defense stayed in NY. Knicks don’t fight over screens…they switch unnecessarily,” Perkins said on his X account.
“Everything to me pointed back to defense…which is a Thibs staple, and looked horrible and undisciplined.”
The 2024-25 season is still a success for New York. Few people believed they could reach the Conference Finals. Beating the champions, the Boston Celtics, was an achievement, and New York was two games away from the Finals.
The Pacers outclassed the Knicks, which is a disappointing result. The Knicks know they could have achieved much more, but that is a lesson for the future. This will be a challenge for Coach Thibodeau and his staff to make adjustments.
Jalen Brunson and the rest of the New York team will be ready for a big 2025-26 season. The coaching staff and players should be accountable as they look to bounce back from this loss.
The Knicks’ front office might make some roster changes. However, Thibodeau will remain on board, as he signed a three-year extension in the 2024 offseason. If he wants to succeed with the Knicks, he must make better adjustments.
New York are desperate for the Knicks to win something. They achieved something good with the Conference Finals run, but they are hungry for more. Thibodeau is a great coach, but he must be open to more ways to win.
