Tom Thibodeau was asked who he would start if point guard Elfrid Payton (thigh muscle) returned from his thigh muscle injury. This is now the least of his problems.
Following his media availability ahead of Tuesday’s game in San Antonio, the Knicks announced that recent starter Derrick Rose is looking for COVID-19 protocols for health and safety. It was not immediately clear whether he tested positive or came into close contact with a person with COVID-19.
That could mean Rose is out until after the All Star break. The Knicks end the first half Thursday against Detroit.
Rose would start his fourth game on Tuesday, but usually all protocols take a week, especially if he was in contact with a person with COVID-19.
“I just decide what’s best for the team,” Thibodeau said when asked who the future entree will be if everyone is healthy.
Frank Ntilikina started the game against the Spurs, and Austin Rivers, who was banned from the rotation, was ready to finally tackle a game as a backup.
Thibodeau finally paid attention to the reason why he often does not want to treat the waste time like garbage time in the fourth quarter of the eruption.
“It’s just a reading about the game, going on,” Thibodeau said. “As people with 3s can make up, there is no lead that is safe.”
The first All-Star Julius Randle has already played 12 minutes of the fourth quarter in Sunday’s blowout from Detroit.
Nerlens Noel, the lone true center of the Knicks, played the last nine minutes on the second night of a rugby match.
The Knicks led the entire fourth place in Detroit with 19 or more points – except when it dropped to 17 with 55 seconds left.
Thibodeau said that the lead was very safe against the worst team from the East, saying: ‘I have a lot of confidence in our bench, but we are also trying to find a rhythm with the guys we have, and we play different groups. There’s a lot that goes into it and it’s just coaching decisions. ”
First-year coach Steve Nash won the NBA Coach of the Month for February by leading the Nets to a 9-4 record. Erik Spoelstra and Mike Budenholzer received votes. Thibodeau was ruled out after going 9-5 last month with a franchise that has been terrible for seven seasons.
“I never look at things, so for me the focus should be on the team,” Thibodeau said. Steve did a wonderful job, happy for him. Great coach, great person. And they have a heel of a year. So congratulations to him. I want the next day to focus on what we need to do. ”
In August, legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told The Post Thibodeau was “an experienced veteran who obviously understands what wins, what loses.” He knows how to put together a program, create a culture, be demanding. ‘
Popovich was prosperous with the Knicks’ 18-17 record set on Tuesday.
“Straight to the track, no surprise,” Popovich said before facing the Knicks. “He has standards, holds everyone accountable, sticks to them. And you see the results. He does a good job. ‘