Only by forcing the desperate situation can you realize the flexibility! It is not too late to stop the cliff of Thibodeau, but the Knicks have the chance to expand the rotation.

In fact, the depth of the Knicks' lineup is more advantageous than that of the Pacers. In addition to the starting players, substitutes such as Mitchell Robinson, McBride, Achouva, Payne, and Wright all have certain ready-to-fight power. However, the stubborn Thiboddeo only used 6-7 rotations in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, and even the previous series, which also made the Knicks not have much fault tolerance. However, in the key Eastern Conference Finals G3, Thiboddeo finally got his head out and expanded the rotation, which also allowed the Knicks to gain a 20-point reversal, avoiding the total score being put into a 0-3 deadlock dilemma. In this critical game, Thibodeau chose to change the lineup first, allowing Mitchell Robinson to replace Hart as the starter. While Hart led the bench, he also activated McBride, Shamet and Wright in this game. Although no one on the bench scored in double digits, at least on the defensive end where Thibodeau demanded the most and the most critical time for the starter to get breathing. After the whole game, Thibodeau used 9-man rotation on a key stage like the Eastern Conference Final for the first time.

Tibodeau ultimately chose to compromise, giving the Knicks a big reversal victory, which could make this round of series full of variables. Because if Thibodeau figured it out, it would not continue to "squeeze" the starting lineup in the future, but would give players on the bench more playing time. In this way, Carlisle's deep rotation is not advantageous against the Knicks. After all, they can only compete against the Knicks in the starting position. After Nesmith sprained his ankle in this game, whether he can continue to play in the next game, even his playing state may be affected, which will undoubtedly have a great impact on Carlisle's arrangement.

In fact, during the regular season, the Knicks were able to achieve third place in the Eastern Conference, which also had a certain relationship with Thibodde's employment and dispatch. Although he was also squeezing the core main players of the starting lineup, McBride, Payne, Achouva, Shamet, Wright, and Mitchell Robinson all got relatively stable playing time at that time, and they did indeed contribute to the team. However, Thibodde, who has always been cautious in employed people, tightened rotations in the key playoffs, and directly refrigerated several blue-collar workers who entered the regular season's regular rotation. So once the core states such as Bridges, Towns, and Brunson fluctuated, the Knicks were indeed suppressed by the Pacers, who played basketball in the first two games when the lineup was tight.

This time, the "cliff" can change the Knicks' fate in this Eastern Conference Final, and at the worst, it can also change the prospects of Thibodeau in the team. Although he assisted the team to reach the finals this time and had previously reached a contract extension with the Knicks, Thibodeau's employing strategy has definitely aroused the dissatisfaction of the Knicks' senior management. However, if he is willing to adapt this time and help the team to reach the finals or even win the championship, then Thibodeau would not be fired by the Knicks at least during his contract period.