On May 26, the G3 of the Eastern Conference Finals began DNP Payne, and Wright (appeared after 15 days) and Shamet (appeared after 9 days) were activated, and the G4 of the Eastern Conference Finals activated Achuwa (appeared after 11 days).

The Pacers' 10-man rotation competition intensity forced Thibodeau's long rotation, but the regular season did not practice and the division finals were sharpened in the finals. Wright, Shamet and Achouva obviously did not match the division finals' intensity.

As the saying goes, if a thousand days of raising troops is used, Thibodeau is seriously insufficient in the development of the bench, and the division final is already the limit of the Knicks.

3. Single tactics

Brunson dribbles alone for more than 15 seconds, "one hits four watches", OG and Bridges squatted in the bottom corner and smoked. I believe everyone has watched this round several times in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks rely too much on the two main attackers Brunson and Towns, and weakened OG and Bridges' ball-holding and offensive roles, and the tactical system is relatively rigid and single.

The Knicks' tactical system also forms a sharp contrast with the open offense that all Pacers participate in. The most intuitive feeling may be that everyone does not know what the Pacers are going to do in the offense, and they know how the Knicks will fight with their eyes closed.

To sum up, the coaching characteristics of Thibodeau's starting lineup determine the lower limit of leading the team is high but the upper limit is low. If the Knicks want to be a playoff team that has been a long-term playoff team, then Thibodeau is enough; but if you want to compete for the championship, changing coaches is imperative. Although Thibodeau is insufficient, he is still an excellent coach. He has truly changed the temperament of the Knicks team.

Before taking office: The Knicks only achieved 21 wins and 45 losses in the 2019-20 season, with offensive efficiency 28th, defensive efficiency 23rd, and 12th in the Eastern Conference. The bottom team has been in a row for seven consecutive years since they stopped in the Eastern Conference semi-finals in 2013.

Thibodeau's first year in office: The Knicks achieved 41 wins and 31 losses in the 2020-21 season, fourth in the Eastern Conference, second in offensive efficiency, third in the league in defensive efficiency, and third in the defensive iron army. The Knicks returned to the playoffs since 2013, and Thibodeau was elected coach of the year.

Thibodeau coached the Knicks in his third season welcomed Brunson to join. The Knicks embarked on a highlight journey, with 47 wins, 50 wins and 51 wins in three consecutive years. In the semi-finals of last season, he lost to the Pacers due to injuries. He eliminated the defending champion in the second round of this season and entered the division final again after 25 years.

Thibodeau labeled this Knicks with tenacity and iron blood, especially the epic reversal of the defending champion Celtics, who can be regarded as the highest moment of Thibodeau coaching the Knicks.

Knicks have a short rotation of 7.5 players, which will fill the main player's time and on-field strength, and will be passionate, tenacious and tenacious. After completing his achievements in one battle, I believe that there is a moment when you will become a supporter of Iron-blooded Thibodeau.

Without Thibodeau, there would be no Knicks. He truly changed the spirit and temperament of a team that had been bad for seven years.

Long rotation is the rotation method that every coach dreams of, but the objective conditions of the Knicks do not allow it.

The Knicks actually faced the same dilemma as the Nuggets in the West. The explosion of main salary seriously restricted the depth of the lineup. Regardless of whether Thibodeau needs to be long rotations, the Knicks' lineup depth will not compete for the championship.

The Knicks' starting salary is quite explosive: Towns (224 million in 4 years), Anunobi (2125 million in 5 years), Brunson (1565 million in 4 years), Hart (81 million in 4 years), Bridges (1 year left in 4 years 90 million in 4 years), and will pay about 38 million in luxury tax this year, which fundamentally determines that the Knicks no longer have salary space to build a bench for championship competition - the starter strikes hard, and everyone bullies the substitutes.

Thibodeau is 67 years old this year. He is a stubborn old-school defensive coach. He has trained defense at the top three levels in the Celtics (defensive assistant), the Bulls, and the Knicks. However, he is not good at cultivating young players and exploring the depth of rotation. He likes short rotation to minimize the variables and risks on the field, which is relatively conservative.

The objective conditions of the Knicks' salary explosion determine that they do not have long rotation lineup resources. Thibodeau is famous for not cultivating new players, preferring short rotation and stubborn coaching style, which forms a logical closed loop.

The Knicks' two core members have serious defensive problems, which also increases the difficulty of Thibodeau's teaming.

213 cm Towns and 188 cm Brunson are two defensive colanders. Both of them must start at the same time, which requires the defense of the other three positions to be top-notch.

Knicks did it. OG, Bridge and Hart basically met the defensive conditions, but they fell behind 0-2 at home in the first two matches in the Eastern Conference Finals; in G3, Mitchell Robinson replaced Hart to start, and the logic was undoubtedly to improve the defense.

Downs and Brunson both were DNP in the fourth quarter in the Eastern Conference Finals, which is also from a defensive perspective. Moreover, Downs and Brunson do not require the opponent to be present in terms of configuration - Brunson can play without Towns' lineup, and Downs can also play with four substitutes. Brunson/Downs' defense is better if he is not present.

However, Thibodeau is a head coach who attaches importance to defense. The poor defense of the two main attackers is contrary to the head coach's defensive philosophy, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty of team formation and chemical reactions.

There is no right or wrong, good or bad, and it is essentially determined by supply and demand.

Thibodeau's iron blood and defense can provide a guaranteed lower limit for a weak team. The team with him will be a tough playoff team, and the ceiling may be the division final.

The Knicks currently locked in the salary space because the starting lineup locks in, and needs a new coach who can smoothly handle the locker room relationship to please Brunson and Towns, and can polish qualified long rotations in the scraps to prepare for the championship..

Thibodeau's characteristics are in line with the Knicks during the opening period, so he is Xiao Tiantian; and now the Knicks want to hit the highest level of the stage, and then look at Thibodeau is Mrs. Niu.

Authentic, the defensive issues of the Knicks' two core cores and the quality of substitutes given by the management also fundamentally determine the difficulty of the game, which is not Thibodeau's fault.