Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Knicks reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during game four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at State Farm Arena on May 30, 2021 in Atlanta. Credit: Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox
From the very first days that he was in charge, before he’d even had a day of training camp with the team, Tom Thibodeau preached a consistent message. Focus on today. Don’t skip a step.
And now, facing the extinction of this season, the message is the same to the team, a group that has heard it enough to mimic the coach.