In a move that shocked many, the New York Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau after he just led them to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. With no successor immediately in mind, the Knicks will now undergo a coaching search to find a coach they think can take them further than Thibodeau; Milwaukee Bucks fans can assure them that the grass isn't always greener when it comes to changing coaches.
Bucks haven't had success with finding a Mike Budenholzer replacement
The Milwaukee Bucks were competitive from the day Mike Budenholzer walked in the door. He was a good coach, taking home Coach of the Year and helping lead the team to the best record on multiple different occasions, but he was undeniably a flawed one as well. Sticking by his side worked, as he helped this team win a title in time. However, a few years later, they cut ties.
The hope was that the Bucks, despite the success they had under Budenholzer, could bring in a new voice who could overcome those flaws. They haven't. Not even close. First, they hired Adrian Griffin, who didn't even make it through his first season. Then, they brought in Doc Rivers to replace him, and that certainly hasn't gone according to plan.
Since firing Mike Budenholzer, the Milwaukee Bucks have lost back-to-back first-round series, with a litany of coaching issues among the factors to blame. To be crystal clear, Mike Budenholzer was not a flawless coach. He also lost in the first round and made plenty of strange decisions when he was the one calling the shots for the Milwaukee Bucks over the years.
Letting Budenholzer go made plenty of sense. However, instead of bringing in a fresh voice to help overcome some of Bud's flaws, they ended up with a coach who has many of the same shortcomings. Many would argue they are even worse. Knicks fans, bringing in a new coach might seem exciting, but it doesn't always lead to the success one would hope for.
Firing Thibodeau, who has helped propel New York to the most success they've seen in a long time, was the definition of a bold gamble by the Knicks, and time will tell if they can make it work or if they will soon come to a daunting realization that the Milwaukee Bucks have over the last couple of years.
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