Tom Thibodeau sounded surprised his buddy and former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy thought it would be a bad idea if the Knicks made the play-in tournament. They were three games out of the 10th spot with 23 games to go entering Friday’s contest against Miami.
On ESPN Radio, Van Gundy, now a top broadcaster, said at the start of the All-Star break that the Knicks getting the 10th slot in the Eastern Conference would be fool’s gold.
“I love Thibodeau and want the Knicks to have success, but long-term I’m not sure making the play-in would be a good thing for them because it would give them a false sense of illusion that they’re closer to being a good team than they really are,’’ Van Gundy said. “I think the best thing that can happen to them is to realize how far they have to go.’’
Van Gundy has never believed in tanking — and it’s unclear he was suggesting that — but Thibodeau still seemed bewildered by his former…