The Indiana Pacers have taken a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, and it might be because of a coaching blunder. The Knicks’ head coach, Tom Thibodeau, surprisingly benched Karl-Anthony Towns in the final minutes of the fourth quarter with his team trailing by nine points.
As New York stares at a tough road ahead, calls are mounting to fire Thibodeau, who is in his fifth season with the Knicks and yet to reach NBA Finals.
Knicks Fans Put the Blame on Tom Thibodeau
While Towns didn’t have his best statistical game, with a -20 rating, he was nevertheless the Knicks’ second-best scorer, behind Jalen Brunson, with 20 points. New York was trailing nine points with nine minutes remaining in the final quarter when Thibodeau decided to bench Towns in favor of Mitchell Robinson.
Robinson, however, only managed six points, and the nine-point deficit didn’t decrease while he remained on the court, leaving many questioning why he was on the sidelines for so long.
Fans were outraged over Thibodeau’s strategy and blamed the loss entirely on the head coach.
“This loss is definitely on him no doubt about it even the INDY based announcers couldn’t believe what was happening as it was happening. Game 1 no doubt was on the players,” a fan wrote.
This loss is definitely on him no doubt about it even the INDY based announcers couldn’t believe what was happening as it was happening. Game 1 no doubt was on the players.
— Julian.Helmi@primeenergyusa.com (@APCEngineer)
“I just don’t get why he does what he does,” another fan vented.
Explaining his decision after the game, Thibodeau implied that he benched Towns because of his suspect defense. He said that when the Knicks got in a hole, “The group that was in there gave us a chance.”
Towns was indeed struggling a little defensively, and Thibodeau may have felt that getting more stops and having a better offensive rebounder in Robinson in the game could get them a win.
However, it’s worth noting that the Knicks were trailing by nine points at the time, and it’s fair to wonder if they needed his offense more than Robinson’s defense while trailing in the fourth quarter.
Fans think they needed Towns, and are calling for Thibodeau’s firing. “He needs to be let go. Garbage rotation and schemes,” wrote a fan.
He needs to be let go.
Garbage rotation and schemes
— nix.ron 🧙♂️ (@nixeniego)
“This sh*t is embarrassing. No defense. No clock management. Can’t hit free throws. No offense outside of Brunson. Awful basketball,” a fan lamented.
“FIRE THIBS. HIRE MALONE,” another fan suggested, possibly referring to recently fired Denver Nuggets’ coach Michael Malone.
MORE: 2025 NBA Mock Draft Following Shocking Lottery Results
Despite the questionable coaching choices in this series, Thibodeau is currently in his best season with the Knicks. It’s the first time he has led them to more than 50 wins a season, and the ECF appearance marks the first for the Knicks since 2000, something he might necessarily need to win to keep his job.
