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Stan Van Gundy defends Thibodeau's rotation: 'Everybody plays big minutes in the playoffs' / News - Basketnews.com

nqajqrqw7months ago (05-17)Tennis Life160

Stan Van Gundy doesn't think Tom Thibodeau is wearing Knicks' players out.

Credit: AP - Scanpix Credit AP - Scanpix

The Knicks bounced back and destroyed the Indiana Pacers 121-91 in Game 5 of their playoff series, forcing their rivals to play on their home court on Friday to avoid being eliminated.

New York Knicks / Schedule

New York Knicks New York KnicksIndiana Pacers Indiana Pacers130-121Indiana Pacers Indiana PacersNew York Knicks New York Knicks111-106Indiana Pacers Indiana PacersNew York Knicks New York Knicks121-89New York Knicks New York KnicksIndiana Pacers Indiana Pacers121-91

Stan Van Gundy made it clear in the TNT broadcast that he does not share the criticism against Knicks' coach Tom Thibodeau, who some consider responsible for the Knicks, forced to always play with a short rotation that tends to exhaust his main players.

"You are already watching the Knicks tonight. Does this look like a team that's worn out, finished, nothing else to give? Not even close," he said, and then ranted about Thibodeau playoff minutes.

"All the talk about Tom Thibodeau playing his guys too many minutes has been absurd. Everybody plays big minutes in the playoffs," Van Gundy noted. "Vince Carter 2000-01 played 45 minutes a game... in 2018-19 the last 7 games Draymond played more than 40 minutes 7 straight times," he recalled.

While Van Gundy settled the score, the MSG boiled with shouts of 'Knicks in six' and the Pacers completely dissolved, devastated by their opponents' energy against which they never seemed to have answers. Now, the Knicks are on their way to Indiana leading the series 3-2 and having the chance to get into their first Eastern Conference finals since 2000.

Thibodeau, without OG Anunoby, gave up playing big, sat Precious Achiuwa and gave minutes to Deuce McBride. With a smaller team and Josh Hart at power forward, the Knicks settled in on offense, where Jalen Brunson put up 44 points, 7 assists, on 18/35 shooting and 28 points in the first half, when he scored more than Pascal Siakam (13, finished with 22) and Tyrese Haliburton (7, finished with 13) together.

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