Now that the New York Knicks' longshot playoff hopes appear to be flaming out after a 12-3 stretch had catapulted the team back into striking distance, some are again clamoring about the team pursuing hard-nosed Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.

Will Tom Thibodeau leave Derrick Rose?

Former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy recently told the New York Post Thibodeau is "the hungriest person in the NBA" suggesting that his no nonsense approach could be just what the long-underachieving Knicks need to change directions. "Tom drives his team, paces his team, evaluates their strengths and has a relentless intensity and thirst to win."

With Phil Jackson now in the fold, the rumors about the Knicks courting Thibodeau are again picking up steam in some circles. It's well-known Thibodeau has three years remaining his deal with the Bulls, but the long-running feud between Thibodeau and GM Gar Forman is also well documented.

Recently, Bulls VP John Paxson sought to squash all the rumors by telling reporters of Thibodeau "he is not going anywhere. I don't think it's a stretch to say our team is the best prepared in the NBA with Tom as our head coach."

Derrick Rose doing well in rehab

Thibodeau's work this season has been particularly praised, as the Bulls have been without All-Star guard Derrick Rose for all but ten games and traded veteran forward Luol Deng prior to the trade deadline.

"Twice that team had a chance to quit and instead they got better,'' a source told The Post. "He loves the players. The players love him. That team bought in."

It's just the kind of guidance the Knicks are in desperate need of.

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