Inside The Knicks Defense: How Tom Thibodeau’s team has dominated
by Adam Kester
Reggie Bullock, Knicks (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The 2020-21 New York Knicks have remained consistent in one area of the game since the opening tip of the season: Defense. This Knicks’ season has been a rollercoaster consisting of remarkable wins, devastating losses, big performances, long slumps, and a variety of players playing different roles.
We’ve seen individual development from some of The Knicks’ younger players, and it’s become a fun balance of winning basketball and growth for the future. One thing has remained consistent all season long: Team defense.
The Knicks have been top-5 in the league in defensive rating all season long and they currently have the 4th highest rating in the NBA. This is a team that ranked 23rd in defensive rating just last season, with almost the same personnel – So how did they get here?
Knicks: The Tom Thibodeau Effect
The 1st year coaching staff has completely rejuvenated a Knicks team that has played underdog all year long. When you take on the job of head coach of The New York Knicks, you have to be prepared to tune out the noise from outside. That’s exactly what the team has done. They’ve focused on one thing only: Their game on the court.
So how did Tom Thibodeau and his staff get to The Knicks players right away? They arrived in a shortened offseason, in a time where you couldn’t escape the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the world during a global pandemic. Yet, the team has been dialed into a fundamentally different mindset. Let’s look at how Tom Thibodeau has molded this team.
New York Knicks</a> have remained consistent in one area of the game since the opening tip of the season: Defense. This Knicks’ season has been a rollercoaster consisting of remarkable wins, devastating losses, big performances, long slumps, and a variety of players playing different roles.</p>
<p>We’ve seen individual development from some of The Knicks’ younger players, and it’s become a fun balance of winning basketball and growth for the future. One thing has remained consistent all season long: Team defense.</p>
<p>The Knicks have been top-5 in the league in defensive rating all season long and they currently have the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/defense/?sort=DEF_RATING&dir=-1%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">4th highest</a> rating in the NBA. This is a team that ranked 23rd in defensive rating just last season, with almost the same personnel – So how did they get here?</p>
<h2>Knicks: The Tom Thibodeau Effect</h2>
<p>The 1st year coaching staff has completely rejuvenated a Knicks team that has played underdog all year long. When you take on the job of head coach of The New York Knicks, you have to be prepared to tune out the noise from outside. That’s exactly what the team has done. They’ve focused on one thing only: Their game on the court.</p>
<p>So how did Tom Thibodeau and his staff get to The Knicks players right away? They arrived in a shortened offseason, in a time where you couldn’t escape the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the world during a global pandemic. Yet, the team has been dialed into a fundamentally different mindset. Let’s look at how Tom Thibodeau has molded this team.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Inside The Knicks' practices </a>
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pic.twitter.com/l4SJ150kQU
<p>— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://twitter.com/sny_knicks/status/1336012864688173060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 7, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>“Being more technical on the defensive end.” It may sound simple, but the emphasis on the technicalities and fundamentals is something that can be lost in today’s game. Everyone on this team knows when and where to rotate while remaining consistent and patient in their defensive stance. It’s been a total team effort on defense.</p>
<p>When you look at the Knicks’ roster, are there good defenders? Absolutely. Are there any All-NBA defensive team players? Nope.</p>
<p>There have been great defensive efforts from everyone, particularly Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, Reggie Bullock, and Nerlens Noel. Even with those great individual efforts, there’s no one who prior to this season was known as some sort of high-end defensive stalwart. There may have been a few “Defensive minded” guys, but no one who is near the top defenders in the game. Thibodeau has his guys playing at a higher-than-expected level.</p>
<p>Thibodeau-led practices require zero slipups in your technique. There are 5 players on the court, and any small mistake isn’t just a reflection on yourself but on your teammates as well. You’ll hear the word “Accountability” over and over. It’s something that remains important for any team but is particularly critical for a defense like Tom Thibodeau’s.</p>
<p>So what exactly is a Tom Thibodeau defense and why has it been so effective? Let’s get into some of the Xs and Os.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> An Inside look at Tom Thibodeau's defensive scheme </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-117483 size-full" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2113,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1310997710.jpeg" alt="Knicks" width="3200" height="2113" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1310997710.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1310997710-768x507.jpeg 768w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1310997710-850x560.jpeg 850w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">James Harden, Julius Randle, Nerlens Noel, Reggie Bullock, Knicks. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Knicks: Tom Thibodeau’s aggressive defense</h2>
<p>Tom Thibodeau has been in the NBA for quite some time now. After serving as an assistant coach in the NBA for over a decade (Including 8 years with The Knicks from 1996-2004) Tom Thibodeau won a championship as the associate head coach for the Boston Celtics in 2008 under head coach Doc Rivers. His reputation as the “Defensive mastermind” behind the Celtics earned him a head coaching gig with The Chicago Bulls. Thibodeau would later coach The Minnesota Timberwolves, and now here he is as the man in charge of The New York Knicks.</p>
<p>Thibodeau has been hailed as an innovator for the modern NBA defense. Defenses have had to keep pace with NBA’ offenses rapid ball movement, multi-faceted players, and stretched-out floor spacing. Much of the game is focused on winning battles at the perimeter and that’s exactly what Tom Thibodeau defenses do – Attack the perimeter.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let's appreciate the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://twitter.com/nyknicks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@nyknicks league-leading defense <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://t.co/eBcjmJgMUC">pic.twitter.com/eBcjmJgMUC
<p>— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://twitter.com/KnicksMSGN/status/1381407247646011396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>The Knicks will relentlessly attack pick-and-rolls and dare teams to make cross-court passes. Even if the team is able to execute a difficult pass to the other side of the court, The Knicks trust that one of their defenders shading towards that side of the court will be able to rotate in time. You need to execute quick, sharp passes all-night-long to beat this kind of suffocation.</p>
<p>When The Knicks defeated the high-powered Portland Trail Blazers on February 6th, star point guard Damian Lillard said in his <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df9ZxtpNnfs&ab_channel=PortlandTrailBlazers%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">postgame interview</a>,</p>
<blockquote><p>“Did you see how they were doubling me?… I just thought they were aggressive. They obviously wanted to send a lot of attention to the ball.”</p></blockquote>
<p>The aggressive defense and double-teaming at the perimeter are often reflected by the “Drop coverage” that Tom Thibodeau teams have executed for years. With drop coverage, the team will send the big man out to help defend the perimeter but have him sink back into the paint, while the guard who was initially defending the ball-handler fights to get back to his perimeter man while also defending the roll-man. It’s a lot of responsibility that requires constant communication between two defenders.</p>
<p>This style of aggressive defense on the pick and roll doesn’t just happen at the top of the key, it happens all over the court. When The Knicks play their drop coverage towards the sides of the perimeter, they’ll execute what’s called “Ice coverage”. Similarly to drop coverage, the big man will sink in the paint. The perimeter defender will essentially guide the ball-handler into the big man, and suddenly, the player dribbling the ball is stuck in the paint with a much bigger defender.</p>
<p>When executed correctly, it’s a nightmare to overcome. If the ballhandler stops their dribble or tries to go back out to the paint, they’ll get hit with an immediate double team. You’ll usually have to keep dribbling through the paint and either look to isolate the big man on the perimeter or reset the offense entirely. It’s ardous to get through the Thibodeau pick-and roll-defense.</p>
<p>Thibodeau’s teams will constantly be overloading defenders towards the side of the court where the ball is, making sure all his guys are ready to pounce on any opportunity to jump into a passing lane. Let’s see how he’s specifically utizlied the Knicks’ personnel.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Getting the most out of everyone </a>
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<a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2017/07/15883369.jpeg">!["Knicks"](https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2135,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2017%2F07%2F15883369.jpeg")
apparent with RJ Barrett,</a> who struggled with his defense in his rookie season. Barrett isn’t the speediest player, but he’s one of the strongest. Now, Barrett looks utilizes his physical tools. He uses his length to disrupt long range shots, and dares people to out-muscle him getting to the rim.</p>
<p>Even the Knicks guards have been excellent contributors. Among Elfrid Payton, Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose, there isn’t a single one who has historically graded out as a positive defender. Yet, they’ve all bought into the team-first mentality and stick to their responsibilities.</p>
<p>This defense will never stop being physical. The constant movement and switching can change your mindset – It makes you naturally more active and ready to dive for loose balls. The Knicks feel like they can steal a game from anyone so long as they set the tone.</p>
<p>It’s a drastic change from the mentality previous recent Knicks teams. Tom Thibodeau has these guys charged up and motivated every single night. The positive culture change is a sign of great things to come, and it’s thrilling to think about what this team can become with a full offseason under Thibodeau and the rest of the coaching staff.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="RJ Barrett is The Knicks' most clutch player" data-url="https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/11/ny-knicks-rj-barrett-teams-clutch-player/" data-call-to-action="Next"
> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/11/ny-knicks-rj-barrett-teams-clutch-player/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> RJ Barrett is The Knicks' most clutch player </a> </div>
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pic.twitter.com/l4SJ150kQU
<p>— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://twitter.com/sny_knicks/status/1336012864688173060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 7, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>“Being more technical on the defensive end.” It may sound simple, but the emphasis on the technicalities and fundamentals is something that can be lost in today’s game. Everyone on this team knows when and where to rotate while remaining consistent and patient in their defensive stance. It’s been a total team effort on defense.</p>
<p>When you look at the Knicks’ roster, are there good defenders? Absolutely. Are there any All-NBA defensive team players? Nope.</p>
<p>There have been great defensive efforts from everyone, particularly Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, Reggie Bullock, and Nerlens Noel. Even with those great individual efforts, there’s no one who prior to this season was known as some sort of high-end defensive stalwart. There may have been a few “Defensive minded” guys, but no one who is near the top defenders in the game. Thibodeau has his guys playing at a higher-than-expected level.</p>
<p>Thibodeau-led practices require zero slipups in your technique. There are 5 players on the court, and any small mistake isn’t just a reflection on yourself but on your teammates as well. You’ll hear the word “Accountability” over and over. It’s something that remains important for any team but is particularly critical for a defense like Tom Thibodeau’s.</p>
<p>So what exactly is a Tom Thibodeau defense and why has it been so effective? Let’s get into some of the Xs and Os.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> An Inside look at Tom Thibodeau's defensive scheme </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_117483" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-117483 size-full" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2113,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1310997710.jpeg" alt="Knicks" width="3200" height="2113" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1310997710.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1310997710-768x507.jpeg 768w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1310997710-850x560.jpeg 850w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">James Harden, Julius Randle, Nerlens Noel, Reggie Bullock, Knicks. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Knicks: Tom Thibodeau’s aggressive defense</h2>
<p>Tom Thibodeau has been in the NBA for quite some time now. After serving as an assistant coach in the NBA for over a decade (Including 8 years with The Knicks from 1996-2004) Tom Thibodeau won a championship as the associate head coach for the Boston Celtics in 2008 under head coach Doc Rivers. His reputation as the “Defensive mastermind” behind the Celtics earned him a head coaching gig with The Chicago Bulls. Thibodeau would later coach The Minnesota Timberwolves, and now here he is as the man in charge of The New York Knicks.</p>
<p>Thibodeau has been hailed as an innovator for the modern NBA defense. Defenses have had to keep pace with NBA’ offenses rapid ball movement, multi-faceted players, and stretched-out floor spacing. Much of the game is focused on winning battles at the perimeter and that’s exactly what Tom Thibodeau defenses do – Attack the perimeter.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let's appreciate the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://twitter.com/nyknicks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@nyknicks league-leading defense <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://t.co/eBcjmJgMUC">pic.twitter.com/eBcjmJgMUC
<p>— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://twitter.com/KnicksMSGN/status/1381407247646011396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 12, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>The Knicks will relentlessly attack pick-and-rolls and dare teams to make cross-court passes. Even if the team is able to execute a difficult pass to the other side of the court, The Knicks trust that one of their defenders shading towards that side of the court will be able to rotate in time. You need to execute quick, sharp passes all-night-long to beat this kind of suffocation.</p>
<p>When The Knicks defeated the high-powered Portland Trail Blazers on February 6th, star point guard Damian Lillard said in his <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df9ZxtpNnfs&ab_channel=PortlandTrailBlazers%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">postgame interview</a>,</p>
<blockquote><p>“Did you see how they were doubling me?… I just thought they were aggressive. They obviously wanted to send a lot of attention to the ball.”</p></blockquote>
<p>The aggressive defense and double-teaming at the perimeter are often reflected by the “Drop coverage” that Tom Thibodeau teams have executed for years. With drop coverage, the team will send the big man out to help defend the perimeter but have him sink back into the paint, while the guard who was initially defending the ball-handler fights to get back to his perimeter man while also defending the roll-man. It’s a lot of responsibility that requires constant communication between two defenders.</p>
<p>This style of aggressive defense on the pick and roll doesn’t just happen at the top of the key, it happens all over the court. When The Knicks play their drop coverage towards the sides of the perimeter, they’ll execute what’s called “Ice coverage”. Similarly to drop coverage, the big man will sink in the paint. The perimeter defender will essentially guide the ball-handler into the big man, and suddenly, the player dribbling the ball is stuck in the paint with a much bigger defender.</p>
<p>When executed correctly, it’s a nightmare to overcome. If the ballhandler stops their dribble or tries to go back out to the paint, they’ll get hit with an immediate double team. You’ll usually have to keep dribbling through the paint and either look to isolate the big man on the perimeter or reset the offense entirely. It’s ardous to get through the Thibodeau pick-and roll-defense.</p>
<p>Thibodeau’s teams will constantly be overloading defenders towards the side of the court where the ball is, making sure all his guys are ready to pounce on any opportunity to jump into a passing lane. Let’s see how he’s specifically utizlied the Knicks’ personnel.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Getting the most out of everyone </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_117484" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2017/07/15883369.jpeg">apparent with RJ Barrett,</a> who struggled with his defense in his rookie season. Barrett isn’t the speediest player, but he’s one of the strongest. Now, Barrett looks utilizes his physical tools. He uses his length to disrupt long range shots, and dares people to out-muscle him getting to the rim.</p>
<p>Even the Knicks guards have been excellent contributors. Among Elfrid Payton, Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose, there isn’t a single one who has historically graded out as a positive defender. Yet, they’ve all bought into the team-first mentality and stick to their responsibilities.</p>
<p>This defense will never stop being physical. The constant movement and switching can change your mindset – It makes you naturally more active and ready to dive for loose balls. The Knicks feel like they can steal a game from anyone so long as they set the tone.</p>
<p>It’s a drastic change from the mentality previous recent Knicks teams. Tom Thibodeau has these guys charged up and motivated every single night. The positive culture change is a sign of great things to come, and it’s thrilling to think about what this team can become with a full offseason under Thibodeau and the rest of the coaching staff.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="RJ Barrett is The Knicks' most clutch player" data-url="https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/11/ny-knicks-rj-barrett-teams-clutch-player/" data-call-to-action="Next"
> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/12/inside-look-tom-thibodeau-knicks-defense-great/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/11/ny-knicks-rj-barrett-teams-clutch-player/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> RJ Barrett is The Knicks' most clutch player </a> </div>
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