The Knicks' Derrick Rose drives to the basket as the Rockets' Eric Gordon defends during the first half of a game on Dec. 16, 2021, in Houston. Credit: AP/David J. Phillip
After the Knicks went into the All-Star break with the sort of dysfunction and struggles that have marked the franchise for two decades, Tom Thibodeau sat for his media session and in a little more than nine minutes went through all of the stages of grief.
Losses piling up, internal finger pointing and no end in sight, Thibodeau kept up a brave face. But while he could voice demands on players earning time on the floor and preach togetherness, it was hard to imagine a way that his bold talk could translate into any sort of face-saving success for the Knicks.