Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks Postgame Press Conference | March 8th, 2024

Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks Postgame Press Conference | March 8th, 2024

Yeah well I thought we played well from start to finish so I think that was important I thought our defense was really good the rebounding good they’re a terrific team you can’t let your guard down at all and uh you have a number of people that can beat you off the dribble

And so you’re challenged on every possession and uh you know I thought we just kept building the lead and that was a testament to the our guys coming in the the bench played well our starters were terrific I thought Josh was fantastic Jaylen was was great precious

Gave us really really good minutes I thought Isaiah’s defense to start the game was top the line that’s as active as he’s been in quite a while so it was great to see um Dante was Dante hustle plays flying around really active you know and we needed that so and then Duce

Duce gave us really quality minutes uh when Jaylen was out too you know like and the thing is we we talked about you know being short-handed right now we have to do it with our defense and our rebounding and keeping turnovers down and so when we fly around

And work together like that and we have the type of activity that we did that gives us a chance to win and we have to play hard on every possession and I love the way we played offensively I thought we created good shots we got good had

Really good Rhythm from three uh and so when we do that we’re we’re going to make you know like he practiced really well yesterday or yeah and uh so like I always say when someone practices well they play well and so this is something that he’s managed for two years so

Hopefully you know it it moves forward no just you know and again same thing with him uh you know you you have nothing but respect for him because he does everything he can to get back as quick as he can like he’s you know two workouts a day he’s on the

Floor he’s pushing himself in practice he’s there he goes early he stays late goes through practice comes back at night gets treatment go works out again and then you know he gets himself ready for what he has to face um he’s doesn’t take hardly any days off and that’s why

He can do the things that he can do the game tells you what you need and like look when you you move forward we need everyone so I ideally we have everyone healthy that’s the goal and you know injuries are part of it and if we have a full roster then we’re asking

People to and we’ve asked everyone to sacrifice all year so that’s not going to change put the team first that doesn’t mean you’re any less valuable to us everyone on that roster including our two-way guys are very valuable to the team for us to have success we need everybody

I think you know and again that they’re they’re a terrific team so it’s not just your individual it’s your team defense you have to swarm you have to fly around you have to give a second and third effort uh you have to be disruptive uh

So you have to build your shell on every possession uh you got to challenge shots then you got to put your body on people they’re they’re a great cutting team so you have to have stance and vision on a weak side you have to move on a flight

Of the ball we have to have great ball pressure great awareness great talk uh and that’s a lot and the more we talk the better our defense is with that pressure couple times not get some calls what do you tell a guy a game like that

Goes to the that many times and you know probably look for something not getting uh no comment I know and the thing is is as you’re right there’s there’s a physicality to it and you know he’s guarding bonero and who’s I think an incredible Talent so and that requires a

Lot and then offensively he made a number of big plays for us hustle plays the offensive rebounding but not only the offensive rebounding the dribble hand offs the extra effort type stuff the screening and that you know those things there probably there’s not a statistic for you know a second and third effort

Just or deflection or tipping a ball or screening somebody or you know getting a uh a offensive rebound and then or a kick out and a dribble hand off and then you know roll into the pocket and create something off that and that he’s doing that so you that stuff’s invaluable to the

Team y y

Coach Thibodeau addresses the media after Knicks’ win over the Orlando Magic.

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