In a development that has to have the Knicks sweating, free-agent-to-be Carmelo Anthony gushed over Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau on Friday as a “great coach” whose system can work with “anybody.” And the Knicks’ 100-89 win over the Bulls Sunday night didn’t change Anthony’s opinion of Thibodeau, or erase the pain of missing the playoffs for the first time in his career.
“It’s hard now. It’s hard for me to accept [not being in the playoffs],’’ said Anthony, who had 17 points in the meaningless win. “It’s hard to kind of be happy in these times. It’s just a hard situation for me right now.’’
With the playoff-bound Bulls expected to be one of his primary suitors, and Joakim Noah reportedly having tried to recruit him over the All-Star break, Anthony’s respect for Thibodeau and his winning system doesn’t bode well. Anthony reportedly has asked a former member of the Bulls what it is like to play for Thibodeau. But according to Thibodeau, his system is simple: It’s this foreign concept called teamwork.
“Our guys play for each other and they play very unselfishly,’’ Thibodeau said. “We play five-man offense, and five-man defense. In every aspect of what we do defensively, whether it’s defensive transition, pick and roll, catch and shoot, post, isolation, it’s very difficult to guard guys individually in this league.
“Then offensively the same thing. We usually have seven guys in double figures. Whoever has the hot hand or the good matchup, that’s where we’re going. We want everyone moving the ball and moving the bodies, make quick decisions, don’t hold onto the ball, don’t dance with it. I think it’s fun for the guys to play like that. And the most important thing is the winning. You have to win.’’
Oh, the winning. While the Knicks will be home for the postseason, the Bulls are 47-33 despite losing Derrick Rose for the season after he’d played just 10 games and then trading Luol Deng in a salary dump. How?
“Thibs is a great coach. His system kind of reminds me of [Spurs coach] Gregg Popovich’s system. You put anybody in that system and it’s going to work. And that’s what they’ve been doing,’’ Anthony said after Friday’s win in Toronto. “They had guys who have been sitting out all season long, guys [have] been in and out the lineup, and they seem to get it done.”
If Phil Jackson wants to keep Anthony in orange-and-blue, that can’t sound good. Yes, the Knicks can offer more money, $129 million, but Thibodeau is a Creative Artists Agency client, like Anthony. And moreover, he wins. And, as ESPN reported earlier, Noah told Anthony: “Look, you could go to Los Angeles, but … if you want to win a ring, come to Chicago.’’
Thibodeau’s teams haven’t won a ring yet, but they’re knocking on the door and reportedly eyeing Anthony as the last piece needed. But Anthony insists this sorry season wouldn’t be the thing that drives him to free agency.
“All this stuff will come into consideration, but I won’t never make it seem like because of this season I’m going to become a free agent. It has nothing to do with this season went,’’ Anthony said. “Even if we had the greatest of a season I probably would still be in that situation.’’