New Orleans Pelicans: Knicks have given Pels a blueprint for success

New York Knicks: How the Knicks improved under Tom Thibodeau

When Tom Thibodeau was hired by the New York Knicks, everyone knew their defense would improve.

Thibodeau has a long history of coaching defense and his teams have always been near the top of the league in that category.

But no one thought he would improve it this much. The Knicks went from the 23rd ranked defense in the NBA last season to the 3rd ranked this season.

If you want to know why they are in the playoffs and the Pelicans aren’t, there is your answer.

Stan Van Gundy was brought to New Orleans to work similar magic with the Pels’ defense but it just hasn’t happened.

In fact, the New Orleans Pelicans got worse. The Pels went from the 21st ranked defense last season to the 28th ranked this season and are giving up three more points per game under Stan Van Gundy.

There are myriad reasons for this, namely that the Pelicans don’t have the personnel but the fact remains that Thibodeau has done exactly what he was hired to do and because of it, the Knicks are headed to the playoffs.

But there is more to the defensive numbers.