Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks Postgame Press Conference | March 27th, 2024

Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks Postgame Press Conference | March 27th, 2024

145 points season High 37 assists what do you like about the way the team performed on the offensive end uh just you know I thought created shots for each other created advantages trusted the past we got into a good Rhythm uh and then I thought our defense picked up in the second half

Rebounding was good we had a number of guys you know step up and play well it’s good to have Mitch out there again thought presses gave us really good minutes and you know Duce got a started with you know his aggressiveness and uh that was huge and then uh you know

Isaiah we had everyone played well good first uh taste for Mitch out there yeah yeah yeah yeah yep so was each day he’s gotten better uh we you know you never know what to expect um but it was a it’s a good Baseline for us and uh I like the way he

Moved uh he’ll get better and better each day that’s the plan two like two two St spr well we’ll see I mean it was just going you know we didn’t know what to to expect so uh but his conditioning was pretty good go um yeah question not not related

To the game if you allow me uh this this team is known for for its resilience uh when it comes to to play uh when it comes to play against that who supposed to be better uh in the playoffs if you look at the standings like the Cavaliers

Last year uh how do you make the players belief I’m sorry believe yeah I believe in the that they can they can they can win against a an opponent that is supposed to be to be better well I think the big thing is you want to have the

Belief it starts with belief that you can win and where does the belief come come uh come from and it it’s from your preparation and the demonstrated ability to win and we always feel that if we defend and we rebound and we keep our turnovers down no matter where we are no

Matter who we have if we do th those three things it’ll put us in position to win so we we understood when we had injuries to Julius and OG and and Mitchell you’re not going to replace those guys individually but we can do it collectively as a team and so that’s

What we’ve done all season and we’ve gotten a lot better and then guys have gotten expanded roles and they’ve they’ve thrived with them so it’s a credit to the work they’re putting in and and and not only their individual work but to work together you know so they’re creating good basketball on both

Ends of the floor I know you stress um not taking any opponent lightly and it seemed like the team has done that managed to come out with with the same fire no matter who they’re facing and now that wind puts you at third place right now um

Just kind of I guess the two things does it matter thir place and also everything matters and so the challenge for us is keep getting better everyone in this league is capable of beating you so I know there’s always the notion of you know like oh you should win this game no

Not in the NBA you one you can’t get here without being a great player everyone has great players and so uh I think you’re making a huge mistake if you don’t put the proper amount of preparation into each and every game and we we’re not taking them lightly I

Think every night you look and you see there’s there’s games that where a team that is an underdog prevails and there’s teams that you we’ve seen 30p Point leads dissipate in 19point leads you know so you can never let your guard down in in this league and I think soon

As you start feeling too good about yourself that’s usually when you’re going to get knocked down Tom you talked a lot about uh McBride’s improved shot this year but you see a different player right now just his confidence yeah I think again where does you know it’s and

It’s it’s a good question like where does confidence come from well it comes from your work that you put in it comes from your preparation and then I think when you see the results and we saw it in practice you know with with the volume of shots and the accuracy of of

His makes in practice and then and now you when he came back in training camp it was it was clear and now that his role is expanded Ed you know he’s got a good Rhythm and he can really shoot the ball and uh and on top of that his

Defense is top of the line it’s it was Elite coming in and it’s you know it’s it’s special to watch I apologize if this has been asked um how did you find running a bit of a three Center rotation tonight and is that something uh that

You plan on doing forward or should the minute is lifting up uh you know it’s it’s who we have available and uh we have a lot of confidence we love the depth that we have at the center position so uh Isaiah stepped in for Mitch Mitch was having a monster year

Before he got hurt Isaiah thrived in his role then Jericho stepped in and then when he made the trade for precious precious has played really well at both positions so that’s been an added bonus uh and then uh the way Josh plays is is special is because I don’t he’s

Just a good basketball player he he does everything he rebounds he plays tough defense he competes on every play he hits the open man uh if you cut and you’re open you’re getting it and you met someone mentioned earlier 37 assists guys were trusting each other and that’s

Important coach you got one of the deepest lineups in the NBA is there any chance Julius will come back I mean he was seen shooting around before the warm-ups I mean it’s pretty good to you know remove a little rest before the the you know your deep playoff run yeah we

Just take it day by day obviously we we don’t want any of our players to be injured uh you know OG same thing just uh when you’re out and you’re injured your games are your rehab each day put as much as you can in and you never know

When it’s going to turn so we’re hopeful uh but we you know you also have to prepare for your reality which is what you have right now so we have to find ways to win games and I think we’ve done that uh but we’re hopeful we’ll have

Everyone in the end thank thank you

Coach Thibodeau addresses the media after Knicks’ win over the Toronto Raptors.

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