The Playoffs are HERE!

Written By: Elliot Allen

The NBA playoffs are here and the are some truly intriguing matchups to start us off in the first round.  The play-in matchups have set the tone for some exciting basketball to come over the next 2 months! One of those interesting matchups will be the New York Knicks vs the Detroit Pistons! This is one of those really contrasting matchups that could prove to be one of the best opening round series. Both teams had a successful season, but the stakes are very different for the two teams.
The New York Knicks always have very high expectations from the faithful New York fans. While this was a season of adjustments for the Knicks in which they added a major piece in Karl Anthony Towns. They lost Julius Randle who was a critical part of the success of the team.  The transition was successful with Towns having a very good season along with Jalen Brunson continuing to really flourish as top player in the league and cementing his status of being THE Knick of this era. The Knicks finished the season with a 51-31 record. Brunson sustained a severe ankle sprain near season’s end which caused some uncertainty to end the season and a loss of rhythm. The flip side is the Knicks seen increased scoring in Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby during the absence of Brunson. The question is - can they gel the emergence of the two forwards with Brunson’s clutch shooting and offensive prowess. There is pressure for the organization to win a title or at very least have a meaning playoff run. A loss in the first round can mean wholesale changes starting with Coach Tom Thibodeau and trickling down to a major move in the player roster. The Knicks do appear to have enough to make a serious playoff run but execution is essential to the future of the team and its organization.
The Detroit Pistons are in a different position for what this playoff series means to them. They are coming off a horrific season. Last year they won a franchise low of 14 games in the season. The season has produced a phenomenal turn around with them boasting an impressive record of 44-38! A very young team that has gelled together behind the leadership of its young star Cade Cunningham. They have looked poised throughout the season coming up with some big wins. The Pistons will prove to be a very dangerous team due to their talent and being in a situation of playing with house money. Although they are an inexperienced team they can play loose with no real expectations. Their star, Cunnigham, does have a poise about his game that seems beyond his actual experience.  The more confidence they gain whether they win the series or not will be a huge booster for the Pistons going into next season.
The season series went to the Pistons 3-1. The last time they met was in the last week of the season and the Knicks had several key players out with injury.  An achilles heel for the Knicks all season has been their inability to beat teams with winning records. It is concerning because teams are who they are so Knicks will have the difficult task of proving that wrong in this case. I look for the experience of the Knicks to prevail. However, if the Pistons get a win in the series early it could prove to the match to ignite themselves to a sizzling series win. This could be the best series in the Eastern Conference first round.