Tom Thibodeau knows it'll take time to build Knicks' identity
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau yells instructions to teammates in the first half of an NBA game against the Cavaliers on Dec. 29, 2020, in Cleveland. Credit: AP/Tony Dejak
As the Knicks returned to Indiana, where they opened the season less than two weeks earlier, they arrived with little clarity of just what kind of team they are right now.
Are they the team that lost three games by at least 15 points in the first five games? Or the team that blew out the Bucks?
It’s hard to tell what the Knicks are, or really what any team is through this odd and abbreviated early NBA season. The teams saw the season start without summer league or fall practices, with just a matter of weeks between free agency, the draft and the start of camp. The preseason schedule was cut to four games for the Knicks, and even that was more than some other teams had.
"I think it’s an ongoing process," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "You look at the season in totality. You have an idea of how you’re going to build up and build your foundation and it takes time. But you need great concentration and you need great effort every day and everyone pulling together. I’ve been very pleased with the way our guys have approached it.
"The first part is your attitude and approach and then a concentration to be a good practice team and then see what carries over into the games. And so it’s early in the season, but each day you have to concentrate and understand what you’re trying to get accomplished. And also to understand what goes into winning. When you win, you still have to make corrections. And when you lose, you want to learn from that and get better the next day."
Quickley is back
Immanuel Quickley had nine points in 15 minutes Saturday night in the Knicks’ 106-102 win over the Pacers. In his only previous action, he played 12 minutes in the opener before suffering a hip contusion when he collided with the Pacers’ Myles Turner.
"A little rust, obviously, but overall very pleased, good energy," Thibodeau said. "You could see he’s clever in terms of drawing fouls, which is very important, and he’ll get his rhythm very quickly. He’s really talented and he’s smart and he’s a great worker. I love his attitude, I love his approach. He’s going to be a really good player in this league for a long time."
The Knicks still were without Alec Burks (sprained ankle), who is day-to-day, and Frank Ntilikina (sprained knee).
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
