{"id":277334,"date":"2025-05-26T04:13:39","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T04:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/26\/shaquille-oneals-partner-in-crime-bamboozled-by-knicks-coach-tom-thibodeau\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:08:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:08:17","slug":"shaquille-oneals-partner-in-crime-bamboozled-by-knicks-coach-tom-thibodeau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/26\/shaquille-oneals-partner-in-crime-bamboozled-by-knicks-coach-tom-thibodeau\/","title":{"rendered":"Shaquille O&#8217;Neal&#8217;s partner-in-crime bamboozled by Knicks coach\u00a0Tom\u00a0Thibodeau"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"4931399\" data-slug-id=\"2533057\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/new-york-knicks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">New York Knicks<\/a> coach Tom Thibodeau relied more on his bench in his team\u2019s 106-100 Game 3 win against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Instead of an eight-man rotation, Thibodeau used a ninth player, Landry Shamet, to give the starters a boost. The strategy helped the Knicks to a breakthrough win and cut the Pacers\u2019 series lead to 2-1.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/shaquille-oneal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Shaquille O\u2019Neal<\/a>\u2019s Inside the NBA co-host, Kenny Smith, had this to say about Thibodeau\u2019s move at halftime in Game 3.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThibodeau wouldn\u2019t play nine guys in a baseball game. I\u2019m surprised! I\u2019m surprised that he has done that.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><template id=\"bets-today-poll\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"preview-card-holder bets-today-poll\">\n<p><span class=\"date\"\/> \u2022 <span class=\"time\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"march-madness-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/march-madness-logo.png\" height=\"42\" width=\"99\" alt=\"march madness logo\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>Tom Thibodeau has gotten flak over the years for playing a short rotation in the playoffs. He usually sticks to eight players when the postseason comes.<\/p>\n<p>In back-to-back losses to the Pacers, Thibodeau relied on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/mitchell-robinson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Mitchell Robinson<\/a>, Cameron Payne and Miles McBride to give the starters a breather. Only Robinson and McBride are averaging over 10 minutes per game in the ECF among non-starters. <\/p>\n<p>The trend changed when Thibodeau played Landry Shamet over 11 minutes in Game 3. Still, Kenny Smith could not help but troll the coach for his overreliance on his opening lineup.<\/p>\n<p>The Knicks faced a 0-2 deficit after the first two games in New York. Thibodeau tweaked his Game 3 strategy by deviating from his usual eight-man rotation. After the win, the coach might stick to the same plan for Game 4.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Tom Thibodeau moved Josh Hart to the bench for Mitchell Robinson<\/h2>\n<p>Josh Hart has struggled on offense in the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers. After averaging 14.5 points in the semis versus the Boston Celtics, he is putting up 7.5 PPG in the ECF.<\/p>\n<p>New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau moved Josh Hart to the bench to play a double big opening five with Mitchell Robinson taking the shooting guard\u2019s spot. Hart played 34 minutes to Robinson\u2019s 29 but did not start for the first time this season.<\/p>\n<p>The Knicks were already dominant in rebounding in the series, but Thibodeau wanted to give the Pacers a different look. The move seemed to backfire as New York struggled in the first half when Karl-Anthony Towns and Robinson played together. They trailed 58-45 after two quarters.<\/p>\n<p>When New York rallied in the fourth quarter to pull off the come-from-behind win, Tom Thibodeau went back to Josh Hart, who played the entire period. Robinson started, but when the chips were down, Thibodeau relied on Hart to deliver.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-author-info-parent\">\n<span class=\"about-the-author\">About the author<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info-holder\">\n<div class=\"author-pic-holder\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"author-pic\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg width=\" height=\"100\"\/><rect width=\"100\" height=\"100\" style=\"fill:rgb(128, 128, 128);\"\/>&#8221; data-lazy=&#8221;https:\/\/keedag.sportskeeda.com\/user-pic\/574869-1717241309-200.jpg?w=200&#8243;<br \/>\nalt=&#8221;Michael Macasero&#8221; height=&#8221;72&#8243; width=&#8221;72&#8243;&gt;\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-bio-detail-holder\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p class=\"author-bio\" id=\"author-bio-text\">\nMichael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.<\/p>\n<p>Michael&#8217;s background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.<\/p>\n<p>Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes\u00a0Popovich&#8217;s genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael&#8217;s reporting philosophy and he\u00a0believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from work, Michael&#8217;s children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.\n<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"author-know-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/author\/mikailmail051521-1\" aria-label=\"Author know more\">Know More<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Michael Macasero<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/news-wouldn-t-play-9-guys-baseball-game-shaquille-o-neal-s-partner-in-crime-bamboozled-knicks-coach-tom-thibodeau\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau relied more on his bench in his team\u2019s 106-100 Game 3 win against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":277335,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[180],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277334"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=277334"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277334\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/277335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=277334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=277334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=277334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}