Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau made a major defensive adjustment during the first game of New York’s ongoing series against the Celtics, per Zach Braziller of The New York Post (subscriber link).
The Knicks opted to frequently switch on pick-and-rolls, a shift from their regular season approach to those coverages. It threw the reigning champs out of rhythm, as Braziller observes, and has the Celtics back on their heels as they look for their first home win of the series.
New York survived Game 1, in Boston, with a 108-105 upset in overtime.
The pick-and-roll change has led to All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns being consistently switched onto ball-handlers, write Fred Katz and Jared Weiss of The Athletic. The club’s stated plan with this approach was to combat the Celtics’ outside shooting.
“(When) switching, (you’re) trying to take away some of their threes: catch-and-shoot, pick-and-pop threes,” guard Josh Hart said. “(We are) making sure when we do switch that the guy is not on an island. He has two, three (teammates) behind him ready to help, ready to step up, and just make it difficult for them.”
It worked: Boston, the most prolific three-point shooting team of the regular season, shot just 15-for-60 from long range.
There’s more out of New York:
- Hart was a major X-factor for the Knicks during that surprise Game 1 road win, notes Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. The veteran forward helped New York erase a 20-point early deficit by keying a critical 31-11 second quarter run. “I think for me it’s always how can I find a way to spark this team,” Hart said. “Whether that’s knocking down a shot, making a defensive play, a rebound, you know, pushing in transition, getting an offensive rebound for an extra shot… That’s just kind of what I’m trying to find throughout the game, especially when you go down by double digits, you go down by 20. You’re just trying to find something to spark that team.” The 6’4″ swingman notched a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double, while also recording three assists and two steals, in 45 minutes of action.
- In Game 1, Boston frequently took to fouling Knicks center Mitchell Robinson in an effort to stop plays and reclaim the ball, figuring his career 52.2% free throw shooting was worth the risk. He went just 3-of-10 from the line in Game 1. According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, it represents the opposition’s respect for how dangerous Robinson can be when he’s not a foul-shooting liability. Robinson’s post defense and per-minute rebounding make him a lethal contributor for New York. “I think he was a plus-13 when on the floor,” Thibodeau said of Robinson. “The reason they’re doing it is to try and get him off the floor. He gives us the ability to switch more but also rim protect and rebound. If they’re not in the penalty, then we can lean on him and go from there.”
- In case you missed it, Knicks wings OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges helped justify the price the Knicks paid to re-sign and acquire them, respectively, with huge defensive nights in Game 1.
Thibs might want to make a couple of offensive adjustments as well.
Just a thought
He heard you ………
🧹 🧹 🧹 🧹 …..
Knicks might win this thing
They’ve got it now.
Nah – Celtics have been better on the road all season.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh yeaaaahhhhhhhhhh, 2WayBridges again at the end
2WayBridges strikes again !!!!!!!!!
What did I say ….. Yogi says Mikal still has a chance to level up ….. 2-0 …. We got our brooms out
Let’s gooooooo
Nice win guys. Great coaching job by Thibs.
I’m reliving Ewing dominating Bulls and going up 2-0. In Chicago man. Can’t let Celtics do what Bulls did …….. I still can’t believe ee are up 2
Wow lol ….. YEeeeeessssssssss
Yeah it’s over for Boston
@ KnickAl
Lol, you can put the brooms away. Almost zero chance of a sweep.
No timeout with 11 seconds left at the end of a horrendous 4th quarter?
Like I said about Mazzulla the other day, he gonna “unconventional” his way out of the league.
Or, maybe he was clueless as to what to do in a timeout anyway, so why call one?
I really don’t think he cares, or cares if he gets fired.
Dude has always been clueless and is carried by all of the talent on the roster. There’s a reason they seamlessly went from Udoka to Mazzula and it’s because they’re loaded with talent.
Not a big proponent of Three Ball. A good team like Celtics. Should be able to do it all on offense.
Kncks D baby ……
Comes across to me as a guy that could literally care less whether he coaches the Celtics or not – and if he weren’t the coach there next season, NBA basketball would be way down on the list of things he’d watch on tv.
Smart guy, I believe, that’s why I think he’s purposely doing things away the norm… he’s set financially for life and would be ok being a gym teacher and coaching a high school team.
@jumpshot
Think you’re being a tad bit silly
@casor
So, you’re saying he’s just an awful coach…. just unintentionally that bad.
Ok… I respect your opinion.
@ jump shot
Yes. Sometimes good coaches make bad decisions.
Joe Mazzula is the worst NBA coach. He just has no answers but martial arts and math. I cannot believe Thibs is outcoaching anyone, but of course its Mazzula. Kudos to Thibs. He at least understands that you get the ball to the hot player.
Boston will regret giving Mazzula a new contract. They should have said thank you and dumped his ass for someone who understands NBA offenses and can motivate a team to actually play defense.
So pathetic. I know I will hear the Pro Mazzula crowd, but I have been saying for years that Mazzula is the weak link of this team.
Celtics look like 2023 Celtics unwilling to compete.
How About Them KNICKERBOCKERS …….
2-4 against Celtics now aristotle ….. talk to me about Bridges….
Bench scoring still hasn’t showed ip for Knicks.
Had 14 total today. But our team D has shown up.
Boston was 9th this yr just ahead of knicks at 115.6 a game. In two games this series they put up 105, 90. Thats what Mitch does …..
Mitch today — 6 pts, 8 rebounds, D, in 22 mins
Sure is nice to have the weapon that is Mitchell Robinson available and playing.
Rim protection—- only a true center can do that. In playoffs its huge man. Makes it easier for others guys to play D.
Still, would like to see Precious cover KP for a few possessions. Shut KP down and there’s no runs
Tatum deserves that most disrespected player award again
OG just gave it him lol ….,,
Knicks got OG for Tatum and Bridges for Brown. Thats Thibs theory there.
Tremendous win for the Knicks. Great job by everyone.
Also Brunson is showing why he was the clutch player of the year. This Celtics team is in trouble and I expect major changes for G3.
Towns and Bridges both. Haven’t played well at home vs Celtics. That has to change now. Both are due for a big gm at home …….
Knicks were up 2-0 vs Bulls in 93. NY went nuts. Thought it was over. Then Bulls swept next 4.
Yet here you are going nuts.
2-2 going back to Boston.
Yeah I remember that series in 93. I wasn’t worried down 0-2. Wasn’t that the Charles Smith 19 offensive rebounds in 30 seconds Game 5 game? Lmao
Go NY Go NY GO ………. Go NY Go NY GO …
🧹🧹🧹🧹
The most important adjustment Thibs made (and I’ve been calling for it for months) was to play Mitch more. +32. Two wins, by a total of 4 points, Mitch has +13 and +19 (even with his 8 missed FT’s). KAT is second on the NYK with a combined +5. The guys most discussed, OG, -14, Bridges, -3, Hart, -4, Brunson, +1. Games are won and lost in the last 5 minutes, only if the score is close enough.
Don’t get carried away with plus n minus. That depends more on the other 4 guys out there with Mitch. Mitch is a big key. He is a premier rim protector. He anchors the D. Celtics didn’t face him all year lol.
When one guy is +32, and nobody else that played alongside him is much better than break even, it indicates that he (and not the other 4 guys) is the difference maker.
As I indicated before the series, identity/culture is more important than scheme/matchups. Mitch anchors the defense, and does it in a manner that establishes the physical identity the Knicks need to be a high quality defensive team. If BOS’s vaunted spacing ability means we lose some scheme/matchups with Mitch in the game, that’s OK with me. We’re losing most of those anyway. I’ll take the physicality advantage in exchange. Here especially, because BOS doesn’t like physicality.
The modt overrated stat in basketball imo.
@ KnickAl
Celtics coach Mazzulla referenced it in his postgame interview (while defending the take fouls that they did late in the 4th that got Thibs to pull him), but then backfired when the Knicks drew the 5th foul with 2:33 remaining.
Celtics never faced Mitch during season. He is in game shape now. After missing most of season. He anchors team D. And keeps Towns fresh. He is an important piece. Knicks have done this as a team.
Everyone raves about 1way players like Luka or Donovan Mitchell but teams need 2-way players even if their offense isn’t as good.
Brown and Tatum are just too streaky too, but at least they play D
Imo Brown is a real 2way guy. Tatum settles for shots at times. Hard to repeat man. Players get spoiled. Not many Kobes and MJs around ….
25% from three in both home games.
Keep chucking, Celtics!
“After their latest great escape, the Knicks became the first team in the play-by-play era (dating back to 1996) to come from 20 points down in consecutive playoff games and prevail.“
Knicks are leveling up at right time. Mitch is playing a big role. He keeps Towns fresher too. These two games were all about team defense and closing out. That’s why Brunson is an all star.
Looks like team building. The work in progress is starting to pay off. Never expected this at start of seasin. Nor half thru the season. Its all about Yogi now ……. stiing pretty up 2-0.
KP seems to have his legs coming back
Celtics played bad but they were 1 bucket from winning both games. Harford will figure towns out. Try the Q on him. Brunson’s calmness won them both games.