Did beating the Boston Celtics cost coach Tom Thibodeau his job with the New York Knicks?
The Knicks, of course, were widely seen as underdogs to beat the then-reigning NBA champs, with the Celtics heavily favored by oddsmakers heading into their 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals second round series with Boston. But we all know how that prospect ended up turning out with the benefit of hindsight; did New York beating the Celtics raise the front office expectations to a degree that made a future with Thibs untenable?
Advertisement
The hosts of the eponymous CLNS Media "Bob Ryan, Jeff Goodman, and Gary Tanguay!" podcast took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk it over. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say!
If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network: https://ytubl.ink/3Ffk
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Did beating the Celtics cost Tom Thibodeau his job with the Knicks?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
28 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Celtics offseason tracker: A closer look at how the roster has changed via trades, signings, and salary cap moves
Boston still has some work to do with Al Horford yet to sign a new deal, but any move for Horford will require shifting another contract — perhaps either Anfernee Simons or Georges Niang, the returns from the two June trades — to be under the second apron. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Read on for a breakdown of the Celtics' cap situation and a recap of all the moves this offseason, which will be updated throughout the summer. Advertisement Acquisitions: Departures: Advertisement Unsigned free agents: Al Horford (unrestricted) Celtics 2025-26 salary (as of July 2): $208,444,487 First apron space (as of July 2): -$12,499,487 Second apron space (as of July 2): -$620,487 June 23 — Celtics trade Jrue Holiday to Portland for Anfernee Simons, picks The Celtics' offseason revamp kicked into gear during NBA Draft week, as news broke late on the night of June 23 that Boston was trading guard Jrue Holiday to Portland in exchange for Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks. It was the first of two expected trades for the Celtics to cut salary, with Boston getting out from the $72 million owed to Holiday over the next two seasons while absorbing Simons's expiring $27.7 million deal. The move saved the Celtics just under $5 million in salary, which in turn saved around $40 million in luxury tax penalties with the team so far above the second apron. June 24 — Celtics trade Kristaps Porzingis to Hawks for Georges Niang, swap picks The second of two trades that had been speculated on since the Celtics' unexpected playoff exit, Brad Stevens managed to get the team under the second apron in the space of less than 24 hours when he traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks. The deal brought back Lawrence native Georges Niang and also saw Boston trade the lesser of its two second-round picks in 2026 while receiving a 2031 second-rounder. By shifting Porzingis's $30.8 million salary for next season and taking on just Niang's expiring $8.2 million, Boston was able to shed $22.6 million in salary. Advertisement June 25-26 — Celtics draft Hugo González, Amari Williams, and Max Shulga The Celtics stayed pretty quiet on the trade front through the draft, shuffling around a couple of picks but otherwise holding firm with their assets. Boston made three selections: Spanish wing Hugo González (first round, 28th), Kentucky center Amari Williams (second round, 46th), and VCU guard Max Shulga (second round, 57th). While Williams and Shulga will likely sign two-way deals, González's rookie deal will pay him $14.3 million over four years, and a $2.8 million salary next season. June 30 — Luke Kornet signs with Spurs in free agency, Celtics sign Luke Garza The Celtics had two unrestricted free agents to try to retain in free agency, and one of them walked within hours of the negotiating period opening. Center Luke Kornet, a fan favorite who had a breakout season and earned significant playing time in the postseason for the first time, signed a four-year, $41 million deal — a number Boston couldn't come close to matching without dipping back into the second apron. With Kornet gone, Boston made a move to shore up its depth down low, adding former Minnesota big man Luka Garza on a two-year, $5.5 million deal that will pay him around $2.4 million next season July 1 — Celtics sign Josh Minott, move back above second apron The Celtics made a second free agent signing of a former Timberwolves player, adding Josh Minott on a two-year, $5 million contract. Minott's deal not only fills out Boston's roster at 15, but it also moves the Celtics back over the second apron (by less than $1 million), meaning any move to retain Al Horford will requite Boston to shift another contract. Advertisement Amin Touri can be reached at
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Five things to know about Celtics center Luka Garza
There is optimism about the 6-foot-10-inch center's offensive potential. There are also concerns about his defensive abilities. Here are five things to know about Garza. He's a former National College Player of the Year Garza won the 2021 Lute Olson award, which is given to the most outstanding player in men's college basketball. (Celtics guard He's also a two-time winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award, which goes to the nation's top center, as well as a two-time Big Ten player of the year. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up He averaged 24.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks while shooting 55 percent from the field during his senior season. Advertisement He was the MVP of the 2023 G-League Next Up game In 2023, the NBA added a G-League showcase game to All-Star weekend. Garza was named MVP of the inaugural G-League Next Up game after he scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Neemias Queta had 22 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, but his team lost. Fans voted Garza as the captain of his team. 'I think I did solid,' Advertisement He's joining a thin Celtics frontcourt With Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet gone and free-agent Al Horford pondering his future, the Celtics' frontcourt depth isn't as strong as it was last year. Garza and Queta are currently the top two centers on the roster, with Xavier Tillman and rookie Amari Williams rounding out the group. There's plenty of time for the Celtics to make roster moves, but for now, the resources are scarce at the center position. He's skilled on offense and questionable defensively Garza gets the bulk of his points in the paint, but he has also shown flashes of being a capable 3-point shooter. He shot 44 percent from deep during his senior season at Iowa, and 44 percent during his most recent six-game stint in the G-League. His NBA career 3-point percentage is 31 percent with much fewer attempts. Garza has shown that he can score off of pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops. He can hit floaters and has a range of low-post moves, having He has not shown that he can defend well enough at the NBA level to stay on the floor. Quickness, mobility, and rim protection are not his strong suits. He Lefty Driesell's son coached him in high school Garza played high school basketball at Maret School in Washington D.C. where he was coached by Chuck Driesell, the son of The elder Driesell resigned from his longtime position at Maryland in 1986 after the death of Len Bias, but returned to coaching in 1988 and stayed in the profession until 2003. Lefty Driesell (786 victories) is 15th on the all-time wins list among men's college basketball coaches. Advertisement The younger Driesell still coaches at the Maret School, where he has been for a decade. Garza won the 2017 D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year award while at Maret. Khari Thompson can be reached at
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
New Boston Celtics big man Amari Williams on his future in the NBA
As things currently stand, the Boston Celtics find their frontcourt rotation a thin one, with multiple key big men having left the team via trade and free agency. But the Celtics did add a center to the team with the No. 46 pick of the 2025 NBA draft, former University of Kentucky big man Amari Williams. The Wildcat alum recently made his way to the City of Boston to sit down with the press and share his initial reaction to the team he was drafted to. Williams spoke on what role he thinks he is going to have in Boston in light of said center departures, as well as what got him to the Celtics as a player in the first place. The folks behind the "CLNS Media Boston Sports Network" YouTube channel put together a clip of the two way center's first interview as a Boston player for us to watch later. Check it out yourself. If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network:
