NEW ORLEANS – Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said an unacceptable factor in the Knicks’ appearance this season had what he called an “additional training camp” in late summer for new coach Tom Thibodeau to enter his system. .
Although it came before the free agency and the project in late September / early October, Knicks and the so-called “Delete 8” organized almost two weeks of team activities. Van Gundy said the Knicks kept most of the players who participated in the OTA.
Van Gundy, who, like his brother Jeff, is a friend of Thibodeau, said the 2019-2020 Knicks season was affected by the continued shooting of David Fizdale.
This Knicks campaign could not have been more different in terms of stability and continue to go along with the fourth consecutive victory, 116-106, over the Pelicans on Wednesday.
“Tom got that little extra training camp over the summer, with the ball to start putting things together, so he got a little more time,” Van Gundy said. “So they kept doing the same thing all year. This helps, boys, when players play the same system all year round. Continuity is a useful thing, and Tom is an excellent coach and they managed to learn the system and play the system from summer to camp until the season. ”
As the new coach, Van Gundy did not have that time, because the pelicans were in the Orlando balloon with the former coach Alvin Gentry. Van Gundy said it was right for the “Delete 8” teams to have those OTAs, because their seasons have been shortened.
Thibodeau said OTAs have been helpful in building “relationships” between the new coaching staff, front office and players more than anything.
The Knicks are 29-27 years old, and Van Gundy said he “plays as well as any team in the East.” He is not surprised by this record or that they became “a low-scoring comeback in the 1990s. Similar to his brother’s teams when Thibodeau was his assistant.
“I’m not surprised,” Van Gundy said. “I do not know why everyone is surprised. If you look east, their talent certainly matches the middle east. I don’t look at the team and say they don’t have anyone. Their talent is pretty good compared to the middle of the eastern pack. I’m not sure why everyone is surprised, but whatever. “
Julius Randle continued his dominance with 32 points, making five triples. Van Gundy said he went from a “great scorer to a great general player, one of the best strikers in the league.”
“It was his five or three that hurt us,” he said. “The difference in the game is the 3-point shooting. Our 3-point shooting was not good enough. ”
Nerlens Noel was the unlucky victim and couldn’t continue the game, so FC’s Norvel Pelle had to come off the bench. He performed well, blocking a shot from Zion Williamson and scoring the first two baskets in 14 minutes.
Thibodeau said he is not bothered by the play-in tournament, which was recently attacked by Dallas owner Mark Cuban. The seeds from 7-10 must organize a mini tournament to qualify for the playoffs.
“There are a lot of benefits,” Thibodeau said. “It depends on what perspective you look at. We must first let it unfold and then evaluate it. Many teams involved in important games are good for the league. ”
The Knicks will face the Mavericks and Kristaps Porzingis on their next two-game outing on Friday.