Tom Thibodeau was asked who he would start when playmaker Elfrid Payton (hamstring) returns from his injury. This is now the least of your problems.
After their availability of media before Tuesday’s game in San Antonio, the Knicks announced that recent holder Derrick Rose is outside the COVID-19 health and safety protocols. It was not immediately clear whether he had a positive test or came into close contact with a person with COVID-19.
This could mean that Rose is out until after the All-Star break. The Knicks finish the first half Thursday against Detroit.
Rose was supposed to start her fourth straight game on Tuesday, but normally all protocols take a week, especially if he was in contact with a person with COVID-19.
“Basically, I decide what’s best for the team, ” said Thibodeau when asked who the future starter would be when everyone was healthy.
Frank Ntilikina started against Spurs, and Austin Rivers, who had been banned from the rotation, was ready to finally enter a game as a reserve.
Thibodeau finally addressed why he often refuses to treat trash time as trash time and stays with his best players in the fourth quarter of the blows.
“This is just reading the game, what is going on, ” said Thibodeau. “The way people can gain ground with 3s, there is no safe lead.”
First All-Star Julius Randle played every 12 minutes of the fourth period in the Detroit explosion on Sunday.
Nerlens Noel, the Knicks’ only center, played the last nine minutes on the second night in a row.
The Knicks led by 19 or more points across fourth place in Detroit – except when they dropped to 17 with 55 seconds remaining.
When told that the advantage seemed very secure against the worst team in the East, Thibodeau said: “I have a lot of confidence in our bank, but we are also trying to find a rhythm with the players we have outside and we have different groups playing. There is a lot involved and these are just coaching decisions. ”
First year coach Steve Nash won the NBA coach of the month award in February, taking the Nets to a 9-4 record. Erik Spoelstra and Mike Budenholzer received votes. Thibodeau was closed after going 9-5 last month, reversing a franchise that had been awful for seven consecutive seasons.
“I never look at these things, so for me the focus has to be on the team,” said Thibodeau. “Steve did an excellent job, I’m happy for him. Excellent coach, great person. And they are having a hell of a year. So, congratulations to him. I want my focus to be what we have to do the next day. ”
In August, legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told the Post that Thibodeau was “an experienced veteran who needless to say he understands what he wins and what he loses. He knows how to put together a program, create a culture, be demanding. ”
Popovich proved to be prescient with the Knicks’ 18-17 record entering Tuesday.
“Course parity, no surprise, ” Popovich said before taking on the Knicks. “He has standards, holds everyone accountable and stays true to them. And you see the results. He’s doing a good job. ”