The New York Knicks are on the brink of clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2013, and regardless of how the franchise fares this summer, it's abundantly clear that longtime head coach Tom Thibodeau is suited to lead them back to relevancy.
Although analysts and fans initially questioned Thibodeau's connection to and understanding of the modern game, his coaching methods have undoubtedly evolved. He's managed to foster a winning culture with winning habits and, most importantly, the Knicks' young roster has bought into Thibodeau's message and process.
Brian Mahoney, who covers the NBA for the Associated Press, joined After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Wednesday to discuss Thibodeau's transformation and the Knicks' surprise turnaround.
"They play hard every night, and they seem to have a plan," Mahoney said. "And those kinds of things matter a little bit, in a season like this, where it's been really chaotic. Guys in and out with injuries, and COVID situations, and a real condensed schedule. Some nights, you don't want to play, or can't play. And the Knicks just play every night, and that kind of matters. They are really driven. And over the course of the season, you can see some guys have gotten better. You look at a guy like [2019 first-round pick] RJ Barrett. He didn't have a great year last year as a rookie, really came on this year. I think that all goes to how good a job Tom Thibodeau has done with this team."
Although the Knicks have seen a handful of young players mature and develop, no one has made a greater impact on the court than Julius Randle. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging a career-high 24.0 points per game this season with 10.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists, and he's only missed one game.
On Tuesday night, following the Knicks' overtime loss to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, Randle's former teammate, Anthony Davis, told reporters that Randle should be viewed as a league MVP candidate and the frontrunner for the NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year award.
"[Randle's] been terrific. This is a guy who had shown he could bully his way to the basket and put up numbers, but not winning-type numbers," Mahoney said. "What he's done this year, kind of being the 'point-forward' for that team -- as Tom Thibodeau calls him -- he's their engine. It's really quite worked for them. And he's going to be probably rewarded with some nice MVP votes, All-NBA-type votes, maybe the Most Improved Player of the Year award. Whatever he gets will be a well-deserved recognition for a guy who's had just a great season."
The Knicks (38-31), which are currently in a three-way tie with the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat for the fourth, fifth, and sixth spots in the East, will look to clinch a playoff berth on Thursday night against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
The entire NBA conversation between Mahoney and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.