Tom Thibodeau is famous for overexerting his players and using unique coaching strategies like starting and closing line-ups to get the job done. Before the Knicks stole Game 3 in Indiana, during the game itself, fans were criticizing Tom Thibodeau’s coaching strategies.
After the Knicks somehow pulled off the win vs. the Pacers, even Charles Barkley was visibly left baffled at how Thibodeau managed to will his team to victory while using those strategies. Barkley went on ‘Inside the NBA’ after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals and spoke to Jalen Brunson.
He said, “Jalen, what the hell is up with Thibs, man? Y’all bench technically won this game for y’all. Does he ever explain to you guys? I’m gonna play, guys, I’m not gonna play, guys. You’ve got to admit it’s kind of wacky!”
"I had a great comeback but let me stop." 🤣
Brunson was about to clap back at Chuck 😭 pic.twitter.com/GlHgJAIuHG
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 26, 2025
Brunson responded, “I had a great comeback, but let me stop. I got the utmost faith and confidence, man. Regardless of what people say on the outside, respectfully, whatever you guys said, we’re a close-knit group in the locker room.”
For context, Thibodeau used some eccentric combinations of players on the floor that you would usually not expect to see together on the floor at the same time. From starting Mitchell Robinson instead of Josh Hart to playing Delon Wright and Landry Shamet at the same time (both of whom didn’t play a single minute in Game 2), an opposing coach simply cannot predict what to expect from coach Thibodeau. He even benched Brunson for most of the final quarter in this game. The player he usually relies on the most. He played a combined three minutes in the fourth quarter.
What Does This Win Mean For The Knicks?
This 106-100 win for the Knicks is the third 20-point comeback they have pulled off in this season’s Playoffs. This season, there were six times when a team came back from down 20 points in the Playoffs. The last two times they did that were against the Celtics in Game 1 and Game 2 of their second-round series.
There's been SIX 20-point comeback wins this playoffs, the most in a single postseason in the play-by-play era (since 1997).
OKC: down 29 in G3 at MEM
IND: down 20 in G5 vs MIL
NYK: down 20 in G1 at BOS
IND: down 20 in G2 at CLE
NYK: down 20 in G2 at BOS
NYK: down 20 tonight
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) May 26, 2025
The Knicks have now revived their hopes to make their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. Karl-Anthony Towns, after struggling with only 4 points in the first three quarters of Game 3, led the Knicks’ comeback rally in the game with 20 points in the final quarter.
For further context, Thibodeau benched Karl-Anthony Towns for the fourth quarter in Game 2 despite his 20 points in the first three quarters. It is this erratic style of coaching and rotating players that brings Thibodeau under the microscope. Will this also help the Knicks win in Game 4? Or will the Pacers find a counter like they did in Games 1 and 2? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
