Hey, he knows our plays … Doc Rivers, …

Hey, he knows our plays … Doc Rivers, LA Clippers coach, past and current rival coach: I guess my favorite thing that I notice about him is I always thought he was a great player, but I didn’t think he was astute defensively. And then the first (playoff) game we played when he was in Miami, every play I called he was calling out the sets. And I turned to Thibs (Tom Thibodeau) and said, “Uh-oh, LeBron’s been doing his homework.” And he’s never stopped since then. I thought those losses to Boston and him probably listening to KG (Kevin Garnett) every night, hearing him call out every set and Paul (Pierce) call out every set, you give him credit. We beat him twice and he came back and used what we were doing against us, and that became very difficult. I think that changed to the better.

Colangelo is still powerful in the NBA …

Colangelo is still powerful in the NBA as the director of USA basketball and chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame. On Friday, he endorsed two Team USA coaches — Jeff Van Gundy and Tom Thibodeau — for the Knicks job. “Those are great basketball guys. They’re terrific coaches. I have great respect for both of them,” Colangelo said. “They’re different. They’re alike in some ways. But they’re born to coach. And the fact that they’re not — there are teams out there that could use those guys, for sure.”

According to NBA insiders, ex-Knicks …

According to NBA insiders, ex-Knicks assistant Tom Thibodeau and former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy are expected on Rose’s short list. Neither Thibodeau nor Van Gundy have gained so much as an interview across the years. Owner James Dolan was said to hold a grudge against Van Gundy for quitting during the 2001-02 campaign.

Thibodeau is a Creative Artist Agency …

Thibodeau is a Creative Artist Agency client and has worked with Rose, who will leave his position as head of CAA’s basketball department. According to a source, Van Gundy likes Rose and the feeling is mutual. Van Gundy and Thibodeau are still tight. Thibodeau was Van Gundy’s assistant during their Knicks days. “If Leon ever hired Jeff, the fans would love him,’’ one insider said.