After Game 3, Tom Thibodeau spent a good part of the post-match conference going over the various facts of the game and the referees' decisions. His team lost to Joel Embiid's 50 points, and the Sixers pivot even scored 19 from the throwing line. Which is not to the taste of the Knicks coach.
What poses a problem for the “Big Apple” coach is not so much the fouls awarded to Joel Embiid, but especially those that are not whistled for Jalen Brunson. For Tom Thibodeau, there is a lack of consistency.
“I'll take a look at it again, and I'll send the videos (to the league), like I do every game. Then they will tell me that it is a marginal contact,” the coach exasperates. “ Then we will have marginal contact with Embiid and he will go to the (free throw) line 21 times. That's how it works. »
Tom Thibodeau has been calling for fouls since the start of the season
This is not the first time that Tom Thibodeau has complained about mistakes that are forgotten, in his eyes, on his playmaker. This has been a recurring subject in the Knicks season. This was the case at the end of 2023 after a match against the Magic. On April 1, against the Thunder, Jalen Brunson put the Knicks back in front a few seconds from the end of the match but without obtaining the bonus shot. Behind, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored the winning basket… “Write what you see” whispered Tom Thibodeau to journalists.
Rebelote two days later against the Heat. “The score sheet announces 10 free throws. But you know, he makes mistakes. Really, I hate to say it but it's that simple. He suffers mistakes, he suffers mistakes, he suffers mistakes…” the former Bulls and Wolves coach repeated six times.
Another blatantly forgotten one?
Also in the first two matches of this first round, Tom Thibodeau railed several times against the shock treatment reserved for his leader by Nicolas Batum and Kelly Oubre Jr.
The Knicks and their coach therefore did not understand how Joel Embiid was able to stay on the field during Game 3. Just before the Sixers pivot caught Mitchell Robinson's feet under the circle, Joel Embiid had placed a shot knee in the private parts of Isaiah Hartenstein.
Asked at a press conference about the blatant fault of the opposing pivot, Tom Thibodeau was ironic. ” Which ? The one they whistled or the one they didn't whistle? » the coach fumed again.
See you at Game 4 for more discussions on the referees…
