With the NBA common season ending on Sunday, groups throughout the league are strategically maneuvering their seeds, trying to manipulate matchups for the primary spherical and past.
The New York Knicks are a type of groups battling for place within the Japanese Convention, as they’re at present the third seed with two video games remaining. New York can clinch that spot with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers — who’re resting vital gamers with home-court benefit locked up — on Friday night time.
Securing the third seed within the East would just about assure the Knicks going up in opposition to the Boston Celtics within the second spherical.
Nevertheless, the Knicks’ potential first-round collection could possibly be problematic in the event that they discover themselves enjoying in opposition to the Detroit Pistons.
This season, Detroit is 3-1 in opposition to New York, together with two wins approaching the street in Madison Sq. Backyard. As well as, the Pistons have gained three straight video games in opposition to the Knicks.
Thursday night time was one other instance of the Pistons imposing their will on the Knicks, successful 115-106. New York was with out OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson.
The Pistons’ dimension and physicality gave the Knicks offense matches within the second half, as New York solely scored 44 whole factors within the ultimate two quarters.
Cade Cunningham presents a nightmare state of affairs for New York. In 4 video games in opposition to the Knicks this season, Cunningham is averaging 30.8 factors, 8.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds whereas capturing 56% from the sector and 52% from past the arc. These statistics present the 23-year-old guard can rating at will and get others concerned.
Defensively, the Pistons can swap in on-ball display conditions in any respect 5 positions with Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, Malik Beasley, Jalen Duren, and Ron Holland II, which is able to create adversarial conditions for Brunson, who thrives within the pick-and-roll offense.
As for Cities, the Pistons’ overwhelming physicality has gotten him into foul hassle within the final two conferences, choosing up not less than 4 fouls in every contest.
As issues stand in the meanwhile, New York and Detroit could be enjoying in opposition to one another within the first spherical because the third and sixth seed. Ideally, the Knicks want to slide again to the fourth spot to keep away from the Celtics’ portion of the bracket and face the Milwaukee Bucks, who’re at present the fifth seed. The issue with this, nonetheless, is Detroit can steal the fifth seed by defeating Milwaukee within the ultimate two video games.
Regardless, New York is in a tricky spot heading into the playoffs. Along with being 1-3 in opposition to the Pistons, the Knicks are 0-7 mixed in opposition to the Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers heading into Friday night time.
