Mike Likes Thibs: Nuggets Coach Praises Knicks' Boss Tom Thibodeau
His modern endeavors have taken him far beyond Gotham, but Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is well aware of what's necessary to create winning basketball in New York City. Born in Queens, Malone served as an assistant with both Manhattan College (1998-2001) and the New York Knicks (2001-05) before becoming one of the winningest coaches in Denver history.
He believes Tom Thibodeau, his former companion on the Knicks' bench and the team's current head coach, has what it takes to follow in those footsteps and the victorious markers he has made in the Rockies.
"He’s had success everywhere he’s been," Malone said of Thibodeau before their groups did battle on Saturday afternoon, via Newsday's Steve Popper. "The guy is passionate. We all know about his work ethic. He continues to do his job at a high level.”
Malone's words came back to bite him: Thibodeau's Knicks, namely the nine he has unapologetically assembled and sent on the floor on a nightly basis since early December, took a 116-110 decision from the Nuggets, the current leaders in the Western Conference. With the win, the Knicks (42-30) clinched their first winning record in an 82-game season since 2012-13.
Malone and Thibodeau's paths still cross at least twice yearly, as each man serves at the helm of a team in the opposite NBA conference. They used to do so daily as assistants on the Knicks' bench, jointly working under Don Chaney (2001-04). Though a little more patience was required, each eventually worked his up to the top seat: Malone got a year-plus with the Sacramento Kings before Denver came calling while Thibodeau was in the midst of his roller-coaster tenure with the Chicago Bulls. Another stop with Minnesota awaited before landing in his current setting with the Knicks.
Current job security creates further deviances from the New York connection: whereas Malone, the third-winningest coach in Denver after only seven-plus seasons, is almost exactly one year removed from inking a contract extension to stay a mile high, Thibodeau probably needs to make a bit of postseason noise to fully assure he gets his seat back for 2023-24.
If it were up to Malone, there'd be no such drama.
Malone praised his former colleague for bucking trends this season: while Thibodeau has often been lauded as a defensive guru, some have felt his offensive have left much to be desired. The Denver boss believes Thibodeau has flipped the script.
"They said that Tom Thibodeau is just a defensive coach and he doesn’t know that there’s a scoreboard and that you have to score points in this league,” Malone said. "(But if) you look at their stats, their efficiency, their offense has been terrific. It’s been almost reversed. They’re top five in offense and outside of the top 10 right now in defensive efficiency. (In the) past five games they’re the No. 1 running team in the league."
"Coaches change, they adjust, they get better. We always ask our players to get better. All the good coaches are not afraid to look themselves in the mirror and challenge themselves to get better.”
To further Malone's point, three Knicks (Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett) have averaged or nearly averaged 20 points a game this season and they whittled down a Denver lead to the tune of 11 fastbreak points. The Nuggets managed to sink their shots on Saturday (over 51 percent), but the Knicks cracked down over the final dozen minutes, allowing only 7-of-18 to fall en route to victory.
Malone and the Nuggets won't have to face the Knicks again this season, barring a surprise meeting in the NBA Finals. It sounds like he and his Nuggets, the first victims of a New York sweep since 2002-03, are rather grateful as they seek to lock up the Western Conference's top seed.
Thibodeau's Knicks return to action on Monday at home against Minnesota (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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