David Fizdale responded to his social-media critics who thought he should have put Frank Ntilikina on Caris Levert on the final play that led to a game-winning basket Friday in Brooklyn.
One of the twitter critics was former Phil Jackson advisor, Clarence Gaines Jr., who was not retained when his contract expired in July.
Fizdale said Hardaway Jr. and Levert are former Michigan teammates and pride was at stake.
“That’s why there was no way I was taking him off that kid on the last possession,’’ Fizdale said. “I’m trying to make Timmy into a complete basketball player.