Pistons-Knicks series has Bad Boy vibes
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Jalen Brunson, left, vs. Cade Cunningham at Madison Square Garden in December. Photo: Elsa/Getty Images
The Pistons are back in the playoffs after a six-year absence for a first-round battle with another gritty squad, the New York Knicks.
Why it matters: A strong showing against the Knicks would put a bow on Detroit's incredible season and further propel guard Cade Cunningham toward superstar status.
State of play: Game 1 in the best-of-seven series is Saturday at 6pm at Madison Square Garden on ESPN. Game 2 is Monday at 7:30pm in New York on TNT.
- LCA hosts Game 3 at 7pm (TNT) on Thursday. Tickets on the secondary market are going for about $120.
Between the lines: A deep playoff run is unlikely, considering Detroit's inexperience.
- But this old-school Eastern Conference matchup hearkens back to the franchise's Bad Boy era, when the Pistons dominated with brutally physical play and maniacal toughness.
Stunning stat: As the conference's sixth seed, Detroit is marking the first time in 17 years that it's placed higher than eighth, per the Free Press.
🥊 Tale of the tape: Detroit (44-38) won 30 more games than last season with new coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the additions of sharpshooter Malik Beasley and veteran Tobias Harris.
- The Knicks (51-31) made significant changes this season, too, trading for former No. 1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns, a big man who stretches opposing defenses with his long-distance shooting.
What they're saying: Pundits have debated whether Cunningham or New York's Jalen Brunson, who averaged 26 points per game this season, is the series' best player.
- Most agree the Knicks will prevail.
- "A bunch of guys who've never played in the playoffs are not going to beat the Knicks four out of seven times and come into MSG and win," ESPN's Tim Bontemps said on a podcast this week. "I've seen this script before — not going to end well."
The bottom line: The Pistons have joined the city's sports renaissance with their playoff return, whether or not they vanquish the Knicks.