Tom Thibodeau sent parting shot for Knicks replacement’s coaching decision with Hart, Robinson out in Cavs win

The New York Knicks picked up a 119-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at MSG that proved Mike Brown might be well-equipped to coach this roster.

While Brown and Co. caught a break from Donovan Mitchell’s injury-related absence in the fourth quarter, the head coach made decisions that could move the needle in the right direction beyond the opening-night win.

As Daily Knicks’ Jordanna Clark sardonically said, Tom Thibodeau, who the Knicks fired back in June after an Eastern Conference Finals series loss at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, would never deploy 11 players in the rotation. Brown did so in the first half.

“In Mike Brown’s first regular-season game as the New York Knicks’ head coach, he did the unthinkable, or what was previously inconceivable under Tom Thibodeau. In the first half alone, Brown played 11 different players. Watching it happen felt illegal,” Clark wrote.

“New York started Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Ariel Hukporti, as Mitchell Robinson is out due to ankle injury management. Josh Hart is out, too. Brown turned to some of the younger players, with Hukporti starting, and rookie Mohamed Diawara getting some run in the first quarter.

“Brown even started Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson to start the second quarter. You can say that things got a little wild at MSG during the first half. Thibodeau, who may or may not be watching the game, probably couldn’t believe his eyes. Neither could fans.”

Beating the Eastern Conference’s other major contender, though playing without Darius Garland, is a major morale victory for a fanbase that’s begging for their talented core to get over the top.

Brown scheming around Hart and Robinson’s injuries by leaning on his all-NBA core of Brunson, Bridges, Towns, and Anunoby, and giving his backup backcourt of rookie Tyler Kolek and Landry Shamet the reins worked out. The small-minute role players provided an energy boost while not trying to do too much.

Brown made Thibodeau look bad in his first game in charge. It won’t happen every night, but it happened on the best night possible for Knicks fans not long after Thibodeau went behind enemy lines at the Boston Celtics’ practice on Monday.