The New York Knicks fell short of their quest to win the NBA title, losing in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers. New York was simply outplayed at different times by the Pacers, and they now will head into the offseason with some questions to answer.
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After the series ended, rumors started coming up about the status of head coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau has been the subject of criticism over time for multiple reasons, and with the Knicks falling short again, there was some wonder about his future with the team.
But according to James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic, Thibodeau seems safe for now.
"Thibodeau absorbed criticisms about heavy minutes for the starters, hardly a new critique, but New York's roster was one of the NBA's healthiest all season and concluded the playoffs with no one injured. The coach has the backing of team president Leon Rose, league sources said, as well as full buy-in from Brunson, who signed with the Knicks in 2022 in part because he wanted to play for Thibodeau. But ultimately, owner James Dolan is the final decision-maker."
Thibodeau will likely continue to lead this group forward, and there could be some changes coming to the Knicks. New York put together a very successful season, but the ultimate goal is a title.
The veteran head coach is 226-174 with the Knicks since taking over as the head coach in 2020. While he has received criticism for his rotational plans over the years, Thibodeau did improve this year,
Even in the playoffs, the veteran coach didn't shorten his rotations, but instead tried to use the bench he had. While the team came up short, the blame shouldn't fall directly onto the shoulders of Thibodeau.
New York had some weaknesses in terms of depth, and the Pacers exploited them completely. But this team showed that they are formidable in the East, and could be even more dangerous next year with some tweaks across the roster.
With Jalen Brunson leading the way, New York should remain a contender for the next few years. If the Knicks can add to the roster, a title could be coming down the pipeline soon.