Fred Katz

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Fred Katz

OKLAHOMA CITY - The phones in Indiana remained quiet through the first week of February. The Pacers knew what they had, even if the rest of the basketball world hadn't caught on yet. The future of the team could have been up in the air. After a 10-15 start to the season, the Pacers were on fire, but a January hot streak sparked versus a mostly cushy schedule.

3 weeks ago | basketball.realgm.com | James Edwards |Fred Katz

New York Knicks coaches and players were frustrated by Karl-Anthony Towns' defensive habits throughout the season, according to James L. Edwards and Fred Katz of The Athletic. The frustration was caused by Towns' defensive process and execution of incorrect coverages without communicating his reasoning. His teammates were also worried that Towns did not understand the importance of the issue. The Knicks held several players-only meetings throughout their playoff run.

3 weeks ago | basketball.realgm.com | Fred Katz

Tom Thibodeau has the backing of Leon Rose to return as the head coach of the New York Knicks next season, according to James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic. Thibodeau also has buy-in from Jalen Brunson, who added that he wants the Knicks to keep the core together for next year. Thibodeau and the coaching staff were cautious about their futures heading into the playoffs and understood that an early exit against the Pistons or Celtics could result in a change.

3 weeks ago | basketball.realgm.com | Fred Katz

New York Knicks players held multiple players-only meetings throughout their playoff run, according to Fred Katz and James L. Edwards of The Athletic. While it is not uncommon for players to hold meetings without coaches, the amoumnt of meetings that were held was considered rare. P.J. Tucker organized a players-only meeting after the Knicks lost to the Celtics by 25 points in Game 5 of the first round. The meeting centered around players not taking the elimination game seriously enough.

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Fred Katz

INDIANAPOLIS - A victory away from team history, the New York Knicks needed to remind each other of the moment. The team had just absorbed a 25-point fist to the mouth the previous evening, a defeat that narrowed their second-round series advantage over the Boston Celtics to 3-2. The day after the Game 5 loss, Knicks players organized at the team's practice facility in Tarrytown, N.Y., a meeting that veteran forward P.J. Tucker called to order.