CHARLESTON, S.C. — The harm avalanche of final season, which was in all probability the principle motive the Knicks succumbed within the second spherical to the Pacers, received’t immediate Tom Thibodeau to undertake a brand new philosophy for physique preservation.
“Every team has injuries. You just deal with them,” the Knicks coach stated Wednesday when requested if there may be a strategic shift this yr to forestall accidents. “That’s part of pro sports. So some years you don’t have any injuries, some you do. So whatever your reality is, you deal with it.”
Thibodeau has by no means subscribed to load administration or punting regular-season video games for relaxation. If a participant is wholesome, the expectation is he fits up.
Thibodeau’s minutes distribution was additionally skewed heavier towards his greatest gamers than most NBA groups, with the Knicks ending second in starters minutes per sport at 165.1, behind solely the Bulls, in accordance with StatMuse.
As Thibodeau alluded, accidents weren’t a significant problem throughout his first three campaigns as Knicks coach. Of the common starters, solely Mitchell Robinson missed vital time.
Final season was the comeuppance.
4 starters — Robinson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson — underwent surgical procedures. Randle, Anunoby and Robinson missed no less than 25 video games apiece.
They mixed to overlook 24 playoff video games.
Robinson nonetheless hasn’t recovered and can sit till no less than December, in all probability longer.
The circumstances bolstered critics of Thibodeau’s all-in, all-the-time philosophy, a popularity that carried him to develop into the three-time defending champion of The Athletic’s participant ballot query, “Which coach would you not want to play for?”
Regardless of the skin rep and harm barrage final season, Thibodeau’s anti-load administration stance has been supported by his Knicks gamers and no less than one in all them — Josh Hart — stated Wednesday that he’s additionally not altering.
“That’s for the media to sit there and cry about,” Hart stated. “I’ll never go into a game and think I’ve got to pace myself or not play as hard as I’m supposed to. At the end of the day, I go out there for every game I play, pray to my Lord and Savior for protection, and I go out and play this game as hard as I can. … I’m not worried about burning out or taking a day off.”
At 29, Hart is the oldest participant within the Knicks rotation but additionally among the many extra sturdy. Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Cities are greater harm considerations.
And with the blockbuster commerce that shipped away Donte DiVincenzo and Randle, the Knicks misplaced some depth — or harm insurance coverage.
On this subject, Thibodeau deserted his well-worn line of “I’m concerned about everything.”
He’s assured within the bench and clearly not going to changetenstio teaching method to protect wholesome our bodies.
“I’m not worried about our depth. I actually like our bench a lot,” the coach stated. “If you look at the things that our guys have done, and I’m not exactly sure who it might be, but Landry [Shamet] has been on a team that’s been at a high level, Cam [Payne] has been on a team that’s won at a high level, Deuce [McBride] has provided a lot for us over that time. Precious [Achiuwa] has been in a lot of big games for us. And then one of the starters is going to be there with them. So I feel that our bench is going to be a huge asset for us.”
