![]() ![]() How much did that change your job as a coach? The hand-checking was gone, the trucking was gone, and then it went to the other side where everything favored the offense. Then in the 2000s when the rule changes came in, speed and skill, a premium was put on that. The 90s were physical, with power forwards playing the small forward positions - the physicality of the league was so different. Thibodeau: When you study the history of the league, you see in different periods there’ve been different styles. ![]() NBA.com: So almost at the halfway point, how do you see the league’s balance this season between scoring and, well, stopping scoring? The state of the Knicks near the midpoint, as they head into consecutive games against rival Boston, got some attention too.Įditor’s Note: The following 1-on-1 conversation has been condensed and edited. New York finished strong, 16-4 in its final 20 games, before falling in five games in the first round to Atlanta.Īs someone who has been on the scene as assistant, scout or coach for almost half of the NBA’s celebrated 75 seasons, Thibodeau seemed a good target for a conversation, particularly about defense. They led the NBA in fewest points allowed (104.7), lowest opponents’ FG percentage (44.0), and lowest opposing 3-point percentage (33.7). Last season, he and the Knicks ended a seven-year playoff drought. He has proven himself as a turnaround artist, helping Chicago to a five-year (2011-15) run unlike any since the Michael Jordan era and leading Minnesota in 2017-18 to what remains its only postseason appearance since 2004. He has put them to use for a 411-297 (.581) regular-season record in 11-plus years, seven playoff berths, three 50-victory seasons and two Coach of the Year trophies 10 years apart. Whether cutting his NBA teeth with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves back in 1989 or presiding as coach for the third time now with the New York Knicks, Thibodeau never strays from the lessons instilled by a string of NBA mentors, including Bill Musselman, Gregg Popovich, John Lucas, Jeff Van Gundy and Doc Rivers. It’s probably a coin flip whether Tom Thibodeau is the unstoppable force or the immovable object, but in terms of any physics equation, he surely is a constant: Defensive-minded, a barker on the sidelines, grinding to the final horn always and, most of all, true to his basketball values. The Rampants will battle against the New Bern Bears on Thursday, April 27.Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau remains one of the NBA’s top coaches. An infield single by Wyatt Fagundus and a wild throw to first base by the Vikings shortstop brought home JJ Myrick and Hunter Pope.Ĭollins retired the last three batters in the top of the sixth inning securing the 12-0 mercy rule for Rampants. The final two runs for the Rampants' came in the top of the fifth inning. The Rampants' ended their aggressive inning with a pop-up by Owen Boyd. The bleeding didn't stop for the Vikings' defense when two wild pitches against different batters by Landon Smith brought home two runners. A sacrifice fly by Ives Howard brought home tagged-up runner Andrew Wallen extending the lead to 8-0. In the same inning, Eveleth crushed a two-run home run to left center as well, adding two more runs to the Rampants' lead.Ī hard-hit ground ball bounced off the Vikings shortstop's glove and brought in a runner extending the Rampants' lead to 7-0. The rally began with a three-run home run to left center field for Aldridge that increased the Rampants' lead to 4-0 with one out. Eveleth and Aldridge showcase a dominant offensive performance later in the ball game.Īt the top of the fourth inning, the Rampants' got their bats heated up and scored a whopping 10 runs extending their lead to 10-0. ![]() In the third inning, the Rampants' put one run on the board with a fouled pop-up by Perry Eveleth scoring tagged-up runner Matthew Aldridge. The Rampants' bats were left with zero hits two innings into the game, Williams had a strong start for the Vikings. ![]()
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