Much has been made of the New York Knicks’ struggles against the top contenders in the Eastern Conference. So far this season, the Knicks are 0-5 against the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, the respective No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the East. 

HC Tom Thibodeau's unwillingness to rest stars will hurt Knicks

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

As discouraging as their misfortune against Eastern Conference heavyweights has been, New York may have an even bigger internal issue.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau, known for his intense, laborious coaching style, has continued playing starters for extensive minutes.

Since accepting his first head coaching gig with the Chicago Bulls in 2010, Thibodeau has scarcely used his second unit and often relies on his starters to lead the team to victory.

This season, each Knicks starter is averaging 35+ minutes per game. Despite their impressive record, former Hawks All-Star Jeff Teague does not believe their winning ways are sustainable, given the immense workload of the starters.

“They need a break,” said Teague on his Club 520 podcast. “Real talk. They need a break. They play everyday and for the whole game. They need a break.

“They are the first team that I’d say needs mandatory load management. And I love Thibs, but they need mandatory load management. They have a fire squad. I’m just praying they all get to the playoffs healthy.”

Thibodeau’s unwillingness to rest starters was displayed during Sunday’s 118-105 loss to the Celtics.

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After attempting to dunk on center Kristaps Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns landed awkwardly, hobbled toward the Knicks’ bench and subsequently went to the locker room to have his knee examined in the game in the fourth quarter.

Despite Towns visibly in pain and New York facing an 18-point deficit, Thibodeau subbed the Knicks All-Star back in the game with just over four minutes remaining.

Towns, acquired in a blockbuster trade last summer, is in the first year of the richest Knicks contract in history. Over the next three seasons, Towns is due upwards of $171 million.

Given his importance to New York’s short-term and long-term success, Thibodeau’s decision to jeopardize his health in a regular-season game is equally puzzling and short-sighted.

This isn’t Thibodeau’s first refusal to rest his starters, either. Notably, during Game 1 of a semifinal playoff matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012, Thibodeau kept his starting unit competitive up 12 with a minute remaining.

That night, former NBA MVP Derrick Rose suffered a career-altering ACL injury while Thibodeau watched from the sidelines.

Rose’s injury dashed the Bulls’ championship hopes that season and the Knicks could suffer a similar fate if Thibodeau does not change his approach.