When Tom Thibodeau’s time in Minnesota came to an unceremonious ending when he was fired from his dual jobs as head coach and team president, he left behind grumblings from some about his methods. But he also left behind the first playoff appearance in 14 seasons for the Timberwolves.
It is that contradiction that he brought to New York this season, the worries about how he would deal with players, how he would drive his team countered by the most important thing to Knicks fans — that he would turn around a long-suffering franchise.
And while the Knicks have caught the eyes of teams around the league — Orlando coach Steve Clifford detailing this week that they have become a team you don’t want to play — the troubles among the players have not materialized.