Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[Jcool0]

Thibs cant catch a break...

When I saw the news break it mentioned that they owe Thibs $30 million. When the Bulls fired him, he was owed $9 million. When the Wolves fired him he was owed $20 million. I read an article that the Bulls paid it all. Not sure if the Wolves had to. But those are nice parachutes for being fired.

Anyway, as to this particular firing its not a surprise. This is what happens. GM has played all his cards, didn't win a championship, so fires the coach to save himself for a couple of years. If the Knicks don't make some pretty serious roster changes in addition to this firing, and basically run it back expecting better results than they got this year . . . . . good luck with that.

Guessing Mike Malone gets the job.

[DuckIII]

Bring Thibs home.

1. I've had enough Thibs for one lifetime. Love the guy, but I'm not interested in a reunion.

2. Thibs would end up rocking back and forth in a padded cell mumbling "ice" to himself within 3 months of being forced to coach a team with Coby, Giddey, Vuc and a 2nd year Matas among his top 6 rotational players.

Actually, scratch that. If Thibs were back Matas wouldn't be in the regular rotation. Too young and icky.

Jokes aside, did he not play any young players that actually deserved to play for us? I know McDermott at the time was cited but obviously he never really became a good player.

We were a pretty crappy drafting team when Thibs was here other than Butler, so frankly there weren't many guys. McDermott was one, Mirotic should have played a little more than he did, and Thibs didn't really play Asik. I think he also had a reputation for not playing, or getting rid of, young guys in Minny and NY as well. I could be wrong. On the other hand, Butler fully developed under Thibs even though they ended up hating each other later (its always been funny to me that the two post-Dynasty martyrs for Bulls fans - Butler and Thibs - went on to have toxic relationships elsewhere including with each other).

He'll land another quality head coaching gig unless FOs start to get the impression he's toxic in the building. I don't know whether he is or not. I'm just saying its the only way I could imagine him not still being a highly sought after coach. I think most organizations can see what the Knicks are doing here. Its an old cliche.

[Ice Man]

Yeah, Thibs is a great regular season coach, but his guys are too worn out to win in the playoffs.

Well, let's see ... the Knicks won their first round this year, won their second round this year, and then lost in 6 to a Pacers team that had skunked both the Bucks and Cavs. The Knicks players played hard, but they had trouble stopping Hali and Pascal from scoring, in part because their Knick counterparts, Brunson and KAT, are crappy defenders.

I don't see at all how what Thibs did in the regular season harmed the Knicks. I feel that this is a narrative that gets advanced regardless of the facts, along with the one that Thibs hurts his players, even though the Knicks were healthy throughout the playoffs this season.

[DuckIII]

It's funny seeing Knicks fans complain about Thibs not using his bench, then react to the firing by suggesting they hire Mike Malone, who also famously doesn't use his bench.

Malone is the second biggest hard-ass in the NBA. Thibs is first. Those guys are both known for wearing down their own players with their unrelenting intensity. On the one hand, replacing Thibs with Thibs 2.0 might be the one thing they can do to maintain their success level. On the other hand, if Thibs is out in part because of a player revolt, and you reward the players by replacing him with his fraternal twin, not quite sure how that story ends.

[jnrjr79]

It's funny seeing Knicks fans complain about Thibs not using his bench, then react to the firing by suggesting they hire Mike Malone, who also famously doesn't use his bench.

Malone is the second biggest hard-ass in the NBA. Thibs is first. Those guys are both known for wearing down their own players with their unrelenting intensity. On the one hand, replacing Thibs with Thibs 2.0 might be the one thing they can do to maintain their success level. On the other hand, if Thibs is out in part because of a player revolt, and you reward the players by replacing him with his fraternal twin, not quite sure how that story ends.

Brunson explicitly said he wanted the team to keep Thibs, so I'm not sure we have a player revolt scenario here (though who knows what people say/feel privately).

[Ice Man]

We were a pretty crappy drafting team when Thibs was other than Butler, so frankly there weren't many guys. McDermott was one, Mirotic should have played a little more than he did, and Thibs didn't really play Asik.

This is a list of 1st round rookies that Thibs has had (OK, Asik was the start of the 2nd round) -

Omer Asik - Got 12-15 minutes PPG backing up an All Star center, sounds about right
Jimmy Butler - Thibs sat on him early, but by Year 3 played him all the time
Marquis Teague - sucked and Thibs treated him as such
Tony Snell - got more minutes than he deserved, but the Bulls were light at his position
Doug McDermott - fringe player and Thibs treated him as such
Niko - Taj got 27 minutes per game, Niko got 20. Yeah I guess Niko could have gotten more minutes, but the Bulls did have a solid veteran starter at the position.
Kris Dunn - semi-bust, is not a terrible pro but didn't deserve to be a rookie starter, and Thibs treated him as such
Obi Tobbin - solid role player, Thibs was maybe a bit light on his rookie minutes but played him in Years 2 and 3
Quickly - Thibs played him a lot, more maybe than he deserved

And that's it, because the Knicks traded almost all their picks.

Who besides Butler is the rookie whom Thibs overlooked? And even with Jimmy, he was on a loaded team that had the best record in basketball, with Deng & RIp Hamilton on the wings.

The overplaying/injury criticism of Thibs has some logic to it, although as I wrote I don't think it applies this year. But the rookie criticism ... where's the evidence for that?

[kodo]

Ian Begley said "top players" were brought in for end of season reviews, there's speculation that the players led to the Thibs firing.

I'm sure Brunson was in Thibs' corner, but it's not just a Brunson team anymore. There's KAT, Hart, Mikal. Hart & Mikal have criticized Thibs in the past, and Thibs has benched KAT for lack of defense in the reg season which probably didn't sit too well with him.

Malone would be odd, he's got a very similar coaching style to Thibs but the offense is far less hero-ball focused. Maybe that's all they're looking for, someone who is a hardass like Thibs but with a more modern offensive style than just letting JB take well defended fadeaways all game (which he still makes against all odds).

[TheGOATRises007]

I think that firing is extremely harsh.

[prolific passer]

1. I've had enough Thibs for one lifetime. Love the guy, but I'm not interested in a reunion.

2. Thibs would end up rocking back and forth in a padded cell mumbling "ice" to himself within 3 months of being forced to coach a team with Coby, Giddey, Vuc and a 2nd year Matas among his top 6 rotational players.

Actually, scratch that. If Thibs were back Matas wouldn't be in the regular rotation. Too young and icky.

Jokes aside, did he not play any young players that actually deserved to play for us? I know McDermott at the time was cited but obviously he never really became a good player.

We were a pretty crappy drafting team when Thibs was here other than Butler, so frankly there weren't many guys. McDermott was one, Mirotic should have played a little more than he did, and Thibs didn't really play Asik. I think he also had a reputation for not playing, or getting rid of, young guys in Minny and NY as well. I could be wrong. On the other hand, Butler fully developed under Thibs even though they ended up hating each other later (its always been funny to me that the two post-Dynasty martyrs for Bulls fans - Butler and Thibs - went on to have toxic relationships elsewhere including with each other).

He'll land another quality head coaching gig unless FOs start to get the impression he's toxic in the building. I don't know whether he is or not. I'm just saying its the only way I could imagine him not still being a highly sought after coach. I think most organizations can see what the Knicks are doing here. Its an old cliche.

I remember Asik playing a lot in 2011 and 2012 due to injuries to frontcourt players and he ended up starting for the rockets in I think 2012-13. I remember Doug would have 10 point first halves and not get any pt in the 2nd half and probably cost the bulls a few more wins with not having that spark off the bench. Niko had a good rookie season but I think had a huge sophomore slump.

[kyrv]

Read on Twitter

i just saw that and guess I shouldn't be surprised. My initial thought is that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Those were my thoughts. I understand the firing, doubt they will get anyone better. On the other hand, if the goal is title or bust, Tom doesn't seem to be the guy

[kyrv]

It's funny seeing Knicks fans complain about Thibs not using his bench, then react to the firing by suggesting they hire Mike Malone, who also famously doesn't use his bench.

Malone is the second biggest hard-ass in the NBA. Thibs is first. Those guys are both known for wearing down their own players with their unrelenting intensity. On the one hand, replacing Thibs with Thibs 2.0 might be the one thing they can do to maintain their success level. On the other hand, if Thibs is out in part because of a player revolt, and you reward the players by replacing him with his fraternal twin, not quite sure how that story ends.

It would be a Knicks thing to do.

[DuckIII]

Read on Twitter

i just saw that and guess I shouldn't be surprised. My initial thought is that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Those were my thoughts. I understand the firing, doubt they will get anyone better. On the other hand, if the goal is title or bust, Tom doesn't seem to be the guy

He’s never really coached a championship quality team. The Bulls weren’t beating Miami. That’s the closest chance he’s ever had.

Thibs is less than his super-fans make him out to be, but I can’t say anything negative about his results. He seems to get his teams to go about as far as they can be expected to go. The issue with him appears to be one of personality, not ability.

[Lexluthor]

Thibs is overrated on this board . He always gets outcoached by the best coaches in the playoffs

[coldfish]

The circle of thibs continues. Gets mediocre team to work hard. Coaches up a PG. Team overachieves. Teams doesn't win title though and everyone decides that its the coach's fault and not their overrated pet cat. Next step: Mediocrity.

Hoiberg is available.

[DuckIII]

The circle of thibs continues. Gets mediocre team to work hard. Coaches up a PG. Team overachieves. Teams doesn't win title though and everyone decides that its the coach's fault and not their overrated pet cat. Next step: Mediocrity.

Hoiberg is available.

I do think that Knicks team is better than mediocre. They just aren’t real contenders. He’s done as well with them as can be expected.

[kyrv]

i just saw that and guess I shouldn't be surprised. My initial thought is that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Those were my thoughts. I understand the firing, doubt they will get anyone better. On the other hand, if the goal is title or bust, Tom doesn't seem to be the guy

He’s never really coached a championship quality team. The Bulls weren’t beating Miami. That’s the closest chance he’s ever had.

Thibs is less than his super-fans make him out to be, but I can’t say anything negative about his results. He seems to get his teams to go about as far as they can be expected to go. The issue with him appears to be one of personality, not ability.

I thought beating the Celtics would be his get out of jail free card, but since the decision was made after exit interviews it's most likely as you said. And to be fair not many people out coach Carlisle.

By NBA standards Thibs has actually had two long runs as HC. As for landing spots, most places and players are ever so slightly soft these days

[kyrv]

Thibs is overrated on this board . He always gets outcoached by the best coaches in the playoffs

The second sentence has been my issue. But again who will they get that is better.

Multiple things can be true, one can write a resume that's great or one that is a little disappointing.

This was a rare great chance to get to the finals.

[Wingy]

It's funny seeing Knicks fans complain about Thibs not using his bench, then react to the firing by suggesting they hire Mike Malone, who also famously doesn't use his bench.

and loved using RWB who so many criticize to no end.

[Wingy]

Yeah, Thibs is a great regular season coach, but his guys are too worn out to win in the playoffs.

Well, let's see ... the Knicks won their first round this year, won their second round this year, and then lost in 6 to a Pacers team that had skunked both the Bucks and Cavs. The Knicks players played hard, but they had trouble stopping Hali and Pascal from scoring, in part because their Knick counterparts, Brunson and KAT, are crappy defenders.

I don't see at all how what Thibs did in the regular season harmed the Knicks. I feel that this is a narrative that gets advanced regardless of the facts, along with the one that Thibs hurts his players, even though the Knicks were healthy throughout the playoffs this season.

Yeah, saw someone point out on the gb how the Cavs were an example of keeping minutes down and load managing some, and then crashing out injured.

I’m not saying Thibs shouldn’t pick and choose times to be better in this regard because he should, but it’s a way overplayed, group think narrative.

[Axl Rose]

Jokes aside, did he not play any young players that actually deserved to play for us? I know McDermott at the time was cited but obviously he never really became a good player.

It did take Lu getting hurt for him to really trust Jimmy, and then once he did he never took him out of the game again