Back in 2017, after a disappointing season where his young Minnesota Timberwolves struggled to hold onto leads, then-coach Tom Thibodeau identified the core problem: toughness.

“I reviewed the game footage, and it consistently pointed to a lack of toughness,” Thibodeau stated during media day that year. “We weren`t playing tough enough. We aimed to change that over the summer.”

Thibodeau believed that injecting more toughness into the team was a quick solution. While other teams were adopting load management to keep star players fresh for the playoffs, the Timberwolves went in the opposite direction, specifically targeting players known for their durability.

“Last season, three of the league`s 17 players who played all 82 games were on our team. We then added Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague, both of whom also played all 82 games. Now we have five of those 17,” Thibodeau proudly noted, emphasizing the significance of these signings. “That`s important.”

These additions didn`t even include Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, known for their resilience and who had previously played all 82 games under Thibodeau during their time with the Chicago Bulls.

Eight years later, Thibodeau`s approach with the Knicks remains consistent. The debate surrounding his strategy, which has followed him throughout his career, also persists.

This season, the Knicks have utilized their bench the least in the league and received the lowest scoring contribution from their reserves. ESPN Research notes that it has been nearly four decades since a team leading the NBA in starters` minutes reached the NBA Finals – the 1986-87 Boston Celtics were the last to do so.

The two-time Coach of the Year`s philosophy regarding relying heavily on top players is a divisive topic among Knicks fans. Despite the debate, Thibodeau has guided the franchise to its most sustained period of success in a quarter of a century, even tying Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley for fourth on the team`s all-time wins list.

Thibodeau, whose 58% win rate is the highest among coaches who haven`t reached the Finals, believes championship-caliber teams need to develop resilience and “mental discipline” throughout the season. However, his demanding, win-at-all-costs mentality raises a crucial question that could impact the team`s potential and his future with the organization:

Will this heavy reliance on minutes burn out the Knicks when they need peak performance the most?

“I believe everyone needs to run their own race,” Thibodeau stated last week.

For any other team, similar comments might be overlooked. But in New York, where starters have historically played excessive minutes and key players have been injured come playoff time, Mikal Bridges` remarks were bound to spark discussion. Bridges, who leads the NBA in minutes and has played every game in his seven-year career, shared his perspective.

“Sometimes it`s hard on the body,” Bridges mentioned to reporters in Portland last month. “We have a team capable enough for our bench players to step in, and we don`t need to play 48, 47 minutes. We have many talented guys who can take on minutes, which benefits our defense, offense, and reduces fatigue.”

Ironically, the controversy subsided that very night as Bridges, in his 41st minute of play, hit a game-winning three-pointer in overtime against the Blazers. Nevertheless, it was noteworthy that a new Knicks player like Bridges would publicly suggest potential overuse.

Even if other Knicks players haven`t been as outspoken as Bridges, data clearly shows the team is an outlier in terms of starter minutes.

When Jalen Brunson suffered a significant ankle sprain in overtime against the Lakers nearly a month prior, the Knicks had three of the top four players in the NBA in minutes played: Bridges at No. 1, Josh Hart at No. 2, and Brunson at No. 4. Even with Brunson`s absence, the starting five have played 885 minutes together, 255 more than any other team.

If Bridges and Hart finish the season as first and second in total minutes, it would be the third time in Thibodeau`s coaching career (previously in 2016-17 and 2020-21) that two of his players led the NBA in minutes. In the league`s 79-year history, there have only been two other seasons where one team had two players leading in minutes.

Thibodeau justifies playing his wing players extended minutes by pointing out that many of the league`s top players, like Boston`s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (potential second-round opponents), are ball-dominant and primary scoring threats.

“We try to maintain matchups. If you look around the league, these players are playing 36, 37 minutes,” he explained. “[Bridges and Hart] are primary wing defenders. That`s how it is.”

Some might argue that the Knicks` slow pace of play mitigates the workload, but their starters may be exerting themselves more than the raw minutes suggest.

Brunson leads the league in ball possession time at 8.7 minutes per game and in clutch baskets with 47. Hart, known for his physicality, frequently dives for loose balls and has recovered a league-leading 80 this season.

Bridges is forced to navigate through 25 screens per game while defending ball-handlers, which is more than any player in the league`s 12-year tracking era. NBA tracking data reveals that Bridges has run 37 miles more than Tyrese Haliburton, 41 miles more than Cade Cunningham, and 66 miles more than Damian Lillard this season against potential first-round playoff opponents.

This context highlights the significance of games like their 24-point victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

The Knicks dominated a Charlotte team missing key players LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. New York established a significant lead and maintained a 20-point advantage for the final 25 minutes.

Hart played 38 minutes, Towns 39, and Anunoby 40. Bridges played 46 minutes and 30 seconds before finally being substituted.

Thibodeau explains his reluctance to remove starters even with large leads by recalling the 2004 game where Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in 35 seconds for the Houston Rockets against the San Antonio Spurs, completing an improbable comeback.

“In this league, no lead is safe. I`ve seen it firsthand,” Thibodeau said last season. “People suggest getting starters out. But experience tells me otherwise.”

When Anunoby returned from a hamstring strain for Game 7 of the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals against Indiana, his entrance and quick scores seemed like a potential turning point. However, it proved to be short-lived. Anunoby`s movement was visibly limited defensively.

“You can see it now; OG Anunoby lacks mobility,” ESPN analyst Doris Burke commented during the broadcast. “On that post-up by Pascal Siakam, Anunoby barely moved.”

Shortly after, Anunoby was slow to close out on Andrew Nembhard, who hit a three-pointer. Thibodeau called a timeout, and Anunoby was taken out of the game after just five minutes, marking his last play of the season.

The situation worsened as the Knicks, already missing Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic for the season, lost Brunson to a fractured hand in the second half.

Despite the Pacers` record-setting 67% shooting in Game 7 to defeat New York, Thibodeau praised his team. “The guys gave everything they had… they had nothing left to give,” he said.

Critics of Thibodeau might point to last year`s injury-plagued playoff run as part of a pattern. The Bulls under Thibodeau also faced consistent injuries, including Derrick Rose`s knee injuries and ailments to Joakim Noah and Gibson. In 2023, the Knicks` postseason may have been shortened by injuries to Randle and Brunson against Miami.

Defending Thibodeau, the Knicks` current bench is less deep than last year. They lost Isaiah Hartenstein to the Thunder and traded Donte DiVincenzo, who became a key player after starting on the bench last season, in the Randle trade. However, a potential positive for New York is a shift in their playing style.

Brunson`s recent absence could provide him with valuable rest before the playoffs. There were signs the Knicks were overly reliant on Brunson, who had scored a league-high 49% of his team`s clutch points before his injury.

During Brunson`s absence, Anunoby and Bridges have increased their scoring, averaging over 22 points each, up from 16.5 and 17.2 points respectively. The Knicks` defense has improved to a top-10 ranking since Brunson`s injury, after being 17th before.

Are these changes, combined with a healthy Brunson, enough to close the gap with the top Eastern Conference contenders? Perhaps. It depends on perspective.

“There`s no right or wrong approach,” Thibodeau concluded. “It`s about what you believe is best for your team.”