Tom Thibodeau was coy about his new objective for 3-point makes an attempt, however the quantity is definitely bold.
“Forty-two is a little low,” Thibodeau responded Monday when a reporter floated it.
How about 45?
“Still low,” the coach mentioned.
While digesting final season’s playoffs, Thibodeau noticed essentially the most profitable groups have been releasing treys at the next price. Three of the 4 Conference finalists — the Mavericks, Warriors and Celtics — completed within the top-4 of 3-point makes an attempt within the postseason.
Since the playoffs are sometimes a precursor to traits, Thibodeau determined to extend his demand from final season’s objective of 37 to 40 3-point photographs.
“We nudged it up a little bit,” he mentioned.
Raising that quantity has been an aspiration from Thibodeau since he took the gig over two years in the past, when the Knicks completed the 2019-20 season because the twenty ninth ranked group within the NBA with simply 28.4 3-point makes an attempt per sport.
“I saw where we ranked in terms of 3-point shooting. So the first thing was — right now we’re not giving ourselves a chance to win because we’re at such a deficit,” Thibodeau mentioned. “We didn’t take enough, we didn’t make enough. So that was the biggest thing — let’s close that gap.”
There wasn’t a lot enchancment in Thibodeau’s first marketing campaign. The Knicks shocked the NBA by ending 10 video games over .500 however their success was constructed on protection and conserving the scores low.
Last season was a giant leap to 36.9 3-point makes an attempt, however the Knicks floundered defensively and fell out of the play-in match.
This season, the Knicks averaged 37.5 3-point makes an attempt of their opening two video games. Thibodeau desires extra.
“Mathematically, we have to be at a certain number for us to have a chance to win,” he mentioned.
Much of that is about tempo. The sooner the Knicks play, the extra possessions it accumulates. Increased 3-pointers are a byproduct.
It’s a method for high-scoring video games, which seemingly undermines Thibodeau’s fame as a defensive specialist.
But Thibodeau understands the ultimate rating isn’t decided by model factors.
“I know how it works in this league. Everyone wants to put you into some box,” he mentioned. “You’re an offensive man, you’re a defensive man, you’re a participant improvement man. Whatever it is likely to be. I simply need to win. I do know I’ve been put into this field. I’ve no downside with it. But I’ve had top-5 offenses, too. I believe for those who perceive protection, you additionally perceive the place the holes within the protection are, the place you’ll be able to assault the holes within the protection. And that’s one of many benefits I believe you do achieve.
“I don’t care if it’s slow, fast or medium. I just want to make sure we have more than them at the end.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com