It’s that time of year again—flowers are blooming, allergies are attacking, and Tom Thibodeau’s rotations are once again being roasted like marshmallows at an NBA Twitter bonfire. After the Knicks fell to the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, former NBA star didn’t bother holding back in the least.

Isiah Thomas took to X to tweet, “Thibs getting out coached… this happens to his teams every year. They die out because he doesn’t trust his bench.” Yikes! And you know when Zeke talks, the NBA world listens like he just dropped a vintage “Bad Boys” elbow in the paint.

Meanwhile, on the other sideline, Rick Carlisle was calmly sipping his metaphorical chamomile tea, crediting his bench like a seasoned vet who’s seen it all. “Our bench did a really good job. I thought McConnell was terrific. Toppin had an underrated night… We’re a team that needs everybody. That’s how we got to play.”

Let’s be honest—this wasn’t Tyrese Haliburton’s masterclass, or Nembhard’s late-game dagger show. This was the Pascal Siakam Late-Night Show, and Thibs’s Knicks had no cheat code for that. Siakam exploded for 39 points on 65% shooting, looked like he borrowed Kawhi Leonard’s Finals mode from 2019, and basically ran OG Anunoby through a cardio drill in transition.

Siakam’s efficiency? It was cleaner than a Spurs ball movement sequence in 2014. Meanwhile, the Knicks’ transition defense looked like it had downloaded a lag patch mid-game—14 fast-break points for the Pacers, with Siakam constantly beating them down the floor like it was a gassed pickup run at 24-Hour Fitness.

Anunoby tried. Josh Hart picked up fouls like he was collecting Infinity Stones. And by the time Jalen Brunson’s heroic 36-point, 11-assist effort kicked in, it was too little, too late.

Carlisle’s Bench vs. Thibodeau’s Trust Issues: The Difference-Maker

Carlisle played this like a coach who read The Art of War on the flight to New York. McConnell was everywhere—passing, annoying, hustling. Obi Toppin wasn’t flashy but gave key minutes. Even Tony Bradley, who hadn’t played all series, got tossed in like a surprise ingredient on Chopped and gave the Pacers just enough beef on the boards.

Meanwhile, Tom Thibodeau? Unsurprisingly, the usual over-reliance on the starters. Miles McBride, Cameron Payne, and Mitchell Robinson saw the court, sure—but only out of necessity, not strategy. Precious Achiuwa and Tyler Kolek? DNP. Might as well have brought folding chairs for them.

It’s classic Thibs. Same movie, different cast. His reluctance to trust his bench in crucial playoff moments has long been his Achilles heel, like a reverse Popovich who doesn’t believe in balance. And it’s costing the Knicks again.

Stat Sheet Madness: The Difference Is Depth Pacers Bench Points: 21. Knicks Bench Points: 11. Pacers Clutch Record This Postseason: 7-0. Knicks Clutch Rotations? Still buffering.

While the Pacers spread the load like a well-oiled 2013 Spurs squad, the Knicks leaned on Brunson and KAT like it was an emergency double feature of Man vs. Wild: MSG Edition. Karl-Anthony Towns dropped 20 but had a -20 plus/minus. Josh Hart? 6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 fouls, and one big question mark on his impact.

With the series shifting to Indiana and the Knicks now down 0-2 (after dropping both games at home), history is staring Thibs right in the face with a clipboard and whistle. Sure, the Pacers pulled off this comeback script against the Knicks last year in the semis, but this time? They’re not looking back.

Rick Carlisle has leaned on depth, trust, and role clarity. Thibs? He’s once again banking on starters playing 40+ minutes and praying they still have juice by Game 7. But this isn’t 2011 Derrick Rose, and Thibs might need to start coaching like it.

The Pacers look like a team with answers. The Knicks look like a team with only one WiFi password—and Thibs forgot to share it with the bench. If there’s ever been a time for the coach to flip the script, it’s now. Because if not? Isaiah Thomas’ tweet might just become Thibodeau’s postseason epitaph—again.