Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks Postgame Press Conference | March 23rd, 2024

Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks Postgame Press Conference | March 23rd, 2024

About minutes yeah I thought that group uh got into the ball challenge shots um they’re they’re hard to guard they can spread you out pretty good so you have to get back you got to get set you got to fly around and you got to be

Connected and so I I knew this game would be a challenge coming off the road the way we did and uh just find a way to win and that’s what we did about offense Dante anded tonight yeah we needed it so I think both guys hit timely buckets you know dece was

Terrific uh defensively because he’s chasing Thomas around and Thomas is a load to deal with and then Dante you know I mean been his best game you know just timely baskets big big plays hustle plays defensively um Josh same thing tough plays rebounding you know they were

Pounding us pretty good on the board early on and so um just getting that energy into the game was huge yeah just situational like I thought the physicality you know was what we needed and and so that’s the only reason why we we did that but whoever’s got it going

That’s where we’re going you know some nights it’s night you’re night is someone else’s night and put the team first everyone sacrifice and that’s really what we’ve done all year you touching this in the beginning but this is a game that you know kind of looked like oh you know home for less

Than 24 hours they don’t have a winning record you know maybe it’s time to Exhale and to have your team just come and push when they needed to and do that what does that tell you about that yeah it says a lot about them and I you know

I love the mental toughness of our team the the the ability to persevere through things when things aren’t going our way just keep going then make it go our way and then in the end find a way to win whatever it is that we got to do that’s

That’s what we have to do and uh you know it’s a credit to them that’s the makeup of these guys and their willingness to commit to play for for the team first and put everything they have into it it says a lot about them I’m saying it’s good to have injuries

Obviously hor we have injuries but when you do it and you’re able to find out stuff about other guys that would have got does that help you well and that’s you know that’s one of the things obviously we don’t want anyone getting injured that’s but it’s part of the game

And then whoever that next guy is whether you get into the rotation or your role may get expanded maybe it’s more minutes maybe it’s more opportunity uh I think it gives that player a chance to grow and you know I think Dante shown that I think Josh has

Been phenomenal I you just can’t say enough about all the intangibles that Josh brings to our team and then for Duce to be doing what he’s doing it’s credit to him and you know and like the thing I loved about jayen tonight he just kept going you know like he had

Some tough breaks shot some shots went in and out just but he he kept going and uh you know that that’s the type of mental toughness that we need to have you you talked about tough I guess mental toughness is an attribute when you look to bring guys in how high up on

The list is mental toughness is pretty high right next to physical toughness no but seriously that I think that’s important the the makeup of the player you know the so the the toughness aspect in it’s mental and physical it’s the ability to think on your feet it’s your willingness to put everything you

Have into each and every day uh and I think that when you look at the characteristics of players that improve I think they exhibit those qualities and so uh I think obviously talent’s a big part of that but the the intangibles what drives achievement right and what drives Improvement I think it’s

Important to look for those things when OG went down the first time you went with press from the start line this time he goes down you go with just what did you see in terms of match ups that made you yeah just you know and look I I have

A lot of confidence in pressure he’s done a great job for us I love the fact that he can play two positions I think he can guard multiple positions you it allows you to do a lot of switching um and so it was more the matchup of okay

Who are we looking at in the Golden State game we’re looking at Curry and then you know the with with uh Brooklyn you’re looking at Camp Thomas has been rolling Bridges is is a low to deal with Cam Johnson spread you out uh finny

Smith is you know a guy that you got to pay attention to and Claxton is you very unique as well and then you know when you look at schruder and the speed that he plays with and then Dennis Smith uh Jr is really turned into a very very

Good player like his defense and his energy and his toughness and his ability to attack the rim are really really good I’m I’m I’m happy for him because he’s a great kid say that you play you say you your body to play the minutes that to play

But with d this week stepping in playing these minutes not even just playing them but like end of the game like going as hard as he does at the end how gring your experience is that level of conditioning to be able to play that much and still be able to play that well

He’s well rusted no it’s no no I you know and the thing is you I there’s nothing that you don’t love about deuce you know like and from the moment we drafted him and even when he wasn’t playing that tells you a lot because the way he worked you know a guy’s work

Ethic is a big part of it too his drive so he had that I think the toughness I mean the guy was a big-time football player those guys are tough guys and he’s he’s strong he’s got great feed he’s got great anticipation he doesn’t quit on a play um so the defense has

Been there from day won and then I think the offense was always pretty good he’s always he’s always been a score but he he’s gotten to the point where he’s just a knockdown shooter now like you cannot leave him open he’s and the numbers bear it out whether it’s practice or or games

And so it’s a credit to him he’s in phenomenal shape he stays in phenomenal shape he takes care of himself so I think he has the ability to do it how important or maybe even comforting is it for you that healthy again hopefully and not only

Doing what he does off the glass but scoring yeah it’s huge he’s moving great in the way he’s playing it’s you know the rim protection the pressure on the rim the playmaking uh playing out of the pocket uh I think is huge for us I think he’s

Feeling better and better uh and he adds a lot to our team so um it opens up the floor for us because you you’re playing Five out you know he’s flashing up to the Elbow we’re playing off that so I think he’s he’s playing at a really high

Level this is as as well as he moved since the beginning of the year when he was grabbing 20 rebounds T night

Coach Thibodeau addresses the media after Knicks’ win over the Brooklyn Nets.

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