The coaching change, in the words of James Dolan, “shocked the world last year.” By firing Tom Thibodeau, the owner got rid of the franchise’s most successful coach in 25 years, who was coming off its best season in that same span.
The reasons were multilayered but largely based on the idea that Thibodeau didn’t collaborate enough with his players and staff. In other words, as Dolan’s reasoning went, Thibs won plenty of games but could’ve won more if he weren’t so authoritative.
It was illogical in theory but genius in practice.
“We changed coaches at the end of last season because we believed that you, the players, and the rest of the organization, needed to be heard,” Dolan told his players before the playoffs. “Needed to work together. Needed to be heard. Not just led or dictated to. And Coach Thibs was a great coach. Brilliant. But we thought you needed a coach that would pull you together. That would have you playing as a team. And although that’s not been perfect, we believe that together, a joint effort, would be better. Would give us a shot at winning a championship — rather than relying on one person’s opinion. And that’s the team we have now. We believe that instead of relying on the coach that you would discipline each other, that you talk to each other, that you would figure out how to play together with each other. And that was stronger than just hearing that from one voice.”
