The New York Knicks came into the 2022-23 NBA season with some tepid expectations. They filled their biggest need by signing point guard Jalen Brunson away from the Dallas Mavericks, but this was a team that still had a few needs.
New York showed hesitancy to go all-in on acquiring an All-Star this offseason via trade. Dejounte Murray and Donovan Mitchell were two players that would have looked great in orange and blue, but the front office didn’t pull the trigger.
The Knicks played against both of them during their three-game losing streak and both were catalysts in the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers pulling away for victories.
That stretch of games, albeit against some excellent competition, as the first of the three losses was to the Milwaukee Bucks, put head coach Tom Thibodeau on the hottest of hot seats.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Tom Thibodeau & New York Knicks Updates
According to an NBA scout that spoke to NBA Analysis Network, Thibodeau nearly lost his job last week. New York was playing against a short-handed Philadelphia 76ers team that was without Joel Embiid and James Harden. The Knicks needed a miraculous comeback to win the game, and in the process, saved Thibodeau’s job.
“I heard that if they lost to the shorthanded 76ers, there was a real chance Tom Thibodeau would likely have been fired. It would have been four losses in a row at that point. It’s difficult to fire a coach after losing to the Celtics — they’re a great team. Regardless, he’s a name to watch on the hot seat as the next coach to be fired.”
Oddly enough it was the performance of Cam Reddish and Obi Toppin, the two players fans feel Thibodeau treats the worst on the team, that got the team a victory in Philadelphia. It was at the expense of Evan Fournier, who is playing himself out of the rotation, another thing that fans have wanted to see.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Tom Thibodeau & New York Knicks Updates
Thibodeau making lineup adjustments, something he has been against during his tenure thus far, was nice to see, but could it have been too little too late? New York needs to make a trade at some point to consolidate the roster. They have too many players and not enough minutes to go around when healthy.
This is something to keep an eye on. As the scout said, there is no shame in losing to the Celtics, who won the Eastern Conference last season. But, another losing streak and the Knicks could be in the market for a new head coach.
