Knicks gave Tom Thibodeau the perfect birthday present

It was the perfect birthday present for Tom Thibodeau.

Thibodeau is a proud New Briton, born in New Britain, Conn, a die-hard Patriots fan who rooted early in his childhood for the Knicks before going green.

At the age of 63, Thibodeau did not receive a big birthday cake from Tom Brady but celebrated by returning to New England to destroy the Celtics with the defense Sunday afternoon, 105-75.

Boston’s 30-point morning massacre ended his club’s five-game losing streak as his Knicks pitched a perfect game against the Celtics at TD Garden without a fan.

The always intense first-year Knicks head coach even put a few smiles on Zoom in the post-game interview.

“You know I’m never happy,” Thibodeau said – with a smile. “I am not happy, unless I am miserable. ”

It has been an exciting afternoon at Beantown – the best so far in his short tenure. The last time the Knicks beat Boston by at least 30 points was in 1997 and Thibs was a young assistant to the Knicks.

“I actually grew up as a Knick fan – my dad was a Knick fan,” Thibodeau added. “Then when I went to school in Boston [Salem State], it was in the mid 80’s so I became a Celtic fan. The irony of it all is that I ended up working for both teams. If you’re growing up in Connecticut, it doesn’t get much better than this. Glad to be part of two historic organizations. “

Admittedly, the Celtics, leaders of the Eastern Conference, were missing superstar Jayson Tatum and postponed three games last week due to COVID-19.

But the Celtics still took the Knicks lightly and they paid. Highligths. They played as if their mind was whether Brady, still a New England obsession, would bring Tampa Bay to the NFC Championship game later on Sunday.

The Knicks played pretty well in their heartbreaking loss to Cleveland on Friday and took their frustration out against the Celtics.

“I told our players this: the way they train, the attitude, the approach and the way they train has been positive,” said Thibodeau. “I thought I was going to Cleveland, I thought we were ready to play. I thought we were great at the shootaround and we played well enough to win [Friday] on the road. We did not close the game as we would have liked. then [Saturday] in practice, I thought it was great. As long as we are doing the right things. I know we will improve and we will continue to improve.

A day as promising as that of the Knicks (6-8), it is just as good for the Brooklyn Dream Team. If the Celtics are their biggest dam to the NBA Finals, you can book Kevin Durant and James Harden’s trip this summer to Los Angeles.

The veterans of the Knicks and their two rookies, playmaker Immanuel Quickley and forward Obi Toppin, played their first-round supply, combining for 29 points on 12 of 20 shots.

“If we keep playing like we did today we’re going to win a lot of games,” said Toppin, who ultimately looked like a lottery pick scoring 12 points and hitting 2 of 4 3 pinters.

Thibodeau’s club harassed the sleepwalking Celtics in one of their worst outside shooting performances in history – 7 of 46 (15.2%) on the 3-point line. The Celtics couldn’t have touched the water if they threw tea in Boston Harbor.

“Defense leads to offense,” said Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, who soared despite being hampered. “The communication was there.

Robinson entered the contest with a bruised heel, then suffered a bad spill in the first half after blocking a 3-point shot. He injured his knee but limped all day on a football Sunday like a pigskin warrior, still an active dunk machine.

Meanwhile, Quickley delivered his usual jerk and started the disappointing Toppin early with an alley lob.

Thibodeau held on, keeping Quickley as a lightning bolt on the bench and Elfrid Patyon as a starter. He was rewarded. There is a lot of time to change. Once he does, he can’t go back, or it’s David Fizdale.

Thereafter, Thibodeau addressed the Quickley issue that gripped social media enthusiasts. Payton’s defense is best used to set the tone early, Thibodeau said, and the Knicks crushed the Celtics on the first tap. The Knicks coach has said he would like to see Payton-Quickley as a couple on the road.

“I love both guys – they’re different and they bring different things to the team,” said Thibodeau. “It gives us great flexibility. Elfrid, when you look at his defense and size, a lot of these guards, especially the point guards in the NBA today, they’re a load to handle. Elfrid has a good understanding of how to defend them. He can play-do for us. And when Quickley walks in, he gives us a different look.

Of course, it’s easier to win in this famous venue without the rowdy Boston crowds. TD Garden is the loudest building in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks made him as quiet as the Sunday church.

Now it goes from Thibodeau’s birthday in Boston to the celebration of Martin Luther King Day at the Garden. Sunday will matter more on the pitch if the Knicks are this triumphant in MLK Day against Orlando.