Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Derrick Rose, Ale Burks, Knicks. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
These next four games will be a progress report and a character check for the Knicks‘ players and a referendum by the players on Coach Thibodeau’s ability to prepare them to play each night. Coaching counts, even in the star-driven NBA. Steve Clifford did not out-coach Tom Thibodeau in the Knicks’ loss to the Magic.
However, a well-coached team like the injury-depleted Magic almost always comes ready to play. Obviously, the Knicks players saw the Orlando game as a breather.