Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks Postgame Press Conference | January 25th, 2024

Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks Postgame Press Conference | January 25th, 2024

[Laughter] talk about your defense tonight 19 turnovers 12 what worked so well for you tonight I just think overall you know defensive activity and so uh our starters got off to a good start and then I thought our bench was huge uh I thought when uh Duce went in

And Quinton uh Josh uh they kept the intensity and the pace of the game going and then we built on that and then you know our starters I thought were were terrific I thought you know you can’t say enough about you know what OG brings uh you know jayen and Julius are are

Going to be to me they’re two Allstars they’re they’re they’re both terrific they’re unselfish um and then we got really good Center play out of Jericho and precious which I think was huge for us uh so you know Dante gave us hustle you know the three-point shooting so like I think it

Was a good allaround uh win we were high assist slow turnover good rebounding uh created you know good shots for each other and they’re you know you think every shot’s going in with them they take good shots and you know they’ve been on on the road for a

While so um but they’re they’re they’re talented and they keep playing they don’t change style of play they just keep going yeah and I think you guys can see it like each game a little more comfortable he’s he’s he’s finding a good Rhythm and I think he’s making

Really good decisions as to when to shoot and when to pass uh but he’s getting downhill and making a lot of good plays for us he very aggressive which I like but he’s not forcing it either uh and then the you know the defense and the hustle it’s it’s

Terrific um you know so we’re get getting good solid play there and and Jericho and uh and precious just you know to step in and do what they’re doing says a lot about them the impact numbers been like ridiculous enti time been here you just kind of keep waiting

For them to go down assume they are and they’re getting higher how I obviously plus 40 for he on the court but like how much of that do you really think is because of his his imp well I think it’s twofold I think you know it’s what he

Brings to the team but it’s also what the guys here are bringing to him you know so it’s it’s you know when you get everyone invested in each other good things come from that and so uh I don’t think it’s any one guy doing something you know that carries everyone else it’s

Everyone one you know playing to their strengths covering up their weaknesses how do they complement each other how do you play smart you know off of each other how do you create advantages and then the game tells you what to do so if jaylen’s being double team just trust

The pass and then get to the right spot same thing with Julius and then with with OG it’s is running the floor it’s dribble handoffs it’s uh moving to space he made plays off the dribble pick and roll you know off flares different things he’s moving around moving without

The ball great uh and I think everyone I thought Quinton really got a good rhythm going as well and I thought Duce got got into a good Rhythm I think that’s important talking not early you know before practice getting something are they like when you’re seeing this 11 and

Two and the way they perform yeah well the thing is the the challenge that everyone has is like you know said this ear the context is important you know you look at your your schedule you you go game by game but you also look at okay what does the month

Look like in terms of practice opportunities and then you might have you got to maximize your time whether it’s you know early group or it’s you know in a ballroom or it’s a film session in in in a coach’s office a film session in my office uh it’s coming back

At night it’s you know even if we have an off we still expect you to get into the gym you know like in uh combining recovery treatment and staying sharp is you know like that’s what you have to do you have to build throughout the course

Of the season and so we got to continue to build habits and then whatever our circumstances are make make the most of them because you’re always going to be challenged that the starters we’re still you know when you look at our our home Road uh schedule so far we’re still you

Know we’re I think we’re plus five to the road you know and I don’t know how I think it’s 10 10 back to backs and that’s a lot in a short amount of time Jer 24 25 years old but had a big task tonight Lally at the form of yic they

Seem so well prepared like even propri section wise for his minuscule movements what goes into like Advan scouting well we well we have like we have great Advanced Scouts and so uh I think you build that habit over the course of the Season how you prepare for I always talk about preparation for

Each game and you have to have routines and you don’t Veer from that you don’t get distracted uh and then every night you’re going to be challenged in a different way so you know they’re well-rounded team they’re like and it’s obvious like yic is greatness but Murray’s a great player as well and

Gordon’s great at what he does and then Pope fits them perfectly and he’s a terrific player and then when you add in Porter shooting that team is very well built and they play so and I think understanding what the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent are is a big

Part of winning and so and then everyone has to be tied together and they’re you know they’re good on both sides of the ball they’re you know they’re good defensively they’re great offensively yic you can you know he’s seen every type of Defense you could possibly play

He doesn’t Force things he you know he reads the game as well as anybody he’s got a point guard’s mind uh and he you know he can shoot the three he can he he no look passes he’s he knows where everyone on the floor is it’s you know

That’s that’s a lot there the reason why they’re they are who they are so um you know in the challenge for the young guy I always say like I think they I was confident like you know obviously I don’t want to see any of our guys get

Injured but I see the way these guys work and I I know when the opportunity comes I always say we have more than enough if you’re here you’re a great player so get in there and get the job done and you know one through 15 very confident in all of

Them I mean he the team that no you know like I know like for you guys it’s like that’s something it’s like we respect them because of what they’ have achieved but I think in this league you have to respect everybody if you don’t respect people you’re going to get beat and you

Let up just a little bit and you know like sometimes you know everyone tends to look at a schedule oh you should win this game no there’s no you should win you have to earn your wins you know so you can’t Overlook anybody and you know like the challenge is to continue to

Build and not feel good about yourself to concentrate on Improvement so you’re playing your best at the end whatever it is that we could be that’s where we want to be at the end you ever recall you ever recall having the coach’s challenge yeah you know like there’s a whole you

Know what you do is and we put a lot of time into it was one of our summer projects like when do you challenge what are the exceptions to challenge that sort of thing what what’s the likelihood of something being overturned uh and then we communicate with the league so

We have a pretty good feel for it you know we don’t get them all right and what are the ones that you know are hard to get overturned and you always want to try to keep one in your back pocket for the end of the game so that’s the way we

You know we we make those decisions second yeah well that and that’s why like often times you know like you usually you know you wait but you know if you feel like it’s 100% you sometimes you roll the dice yep

Coach Thibodeau addresses the media after Knicks’ win over the Denver Nuggets.

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