Knicks Head Coach Took Jab At Celtics Champion Before Game 1

Tom Thibodeau was in familiar territory Monday night.

Thibodeau was born and raised in Connecticut, and both played and coached at Salem State. His coaching career also took him to Harvard and TD Garden, where he served as a Boston Celtics assistant coach from 2007 to 2010.

So, the Knicks-Celtics second-round playoff series opener was a homecoming of sorts for Thibodeau, who raved about the 18-time NBA champions before tipoff. New York’s head coach called his time in Boston “unbelievable” and raved about the organization from top to bottom.

Thibodeau couldn’t help but mix in a playful jab with the kind words, though.

“The only hole in the franchise is (Brian) Scalabrine,” Thibodeau told reporters, per a video shared by SNY.

Thibodeau and Scalabrine, of course, have a rapport after working together for three seasons in Boston and helping the Celtics win the 2008 NBA title. The “White Mamba” now works as an analyst and color commentator for the C’s, who were stunned by Thibodeau’s Knicks in Game 1 on Monday night.

If Thibodeau is superstitious at all, maybe he’ll want to toss out another pregame friendly ribbing Wednesday when the longtime rivals meet for Game 2.