#1 - Pistons@Knicks - 6pm ET

[Rip32]

The box score won't really tell the story on how the 4th quarter played out. Starting with that 5 second call we were completely taken out of of the game. NYs' length is definitely a problem but our inexperience was also a major factor.

I enjoyed watching Brunson sorta bust out while with Dallas and his emergence the first year with the Knicks... but I can already tell that his constant foul hunting is going to irritate the **** out of me all series. I hope the refs don't constantly bail him out. It's going to be chippy enough we don't need these bs calls when he's jumping into guys and initiating the contact. Brunson is going to make some tough shots and will probably have some big games, but I think we'll also be able to limit his effectiveness at times and wear him down as the series progresses.

KAT is the real problem. I don't know how we answer him. Like... no clue. He's not prime Shaq or anything, but offensively the dude is just a beast and we're way undersized. Even more so with their 2-big lineup. That dude is going to have a monster series.

OG played a hell of game too. Probably the best player on the court through all 4 quarters and maybe that's secretly the biggest problem. Like,... in my brain KAT & Brunson are going to get theirs kinda no matter what. You can try and make them tough shots but those guys are tough covers & elite shot makers. If OG is playing like this as a "3rd" or "4th" option... that's kinda scary. With Hart & Robinson etc these guys have the tools to give CLE/BOS problems. Health has sorta been their biggest issue this season.

Finally somebody who also points out the Pistons lack of size. They are a diminutive team which is astonishing they made the playoffs being so small.


I’m also surprised some people preferred the Knicks to playing other teams because the Knicks are about to sweep the Pistons. If Detroit couldn’t get this one I doubt they win a game. Reminded me of game 1 back in 2016 against the Cavs

I agree! I predicted sweep and I don't see it changing. We are small and a primary jump shooting team. You blitz Cade when he gives it who can create? What happens when Cade turns it over? You're not going hit jumps shots the whole game and we can't get easy baskets because we can't rebound

[Homelander87]

The box score won't really tell the story on how the 4th quarter played out. Starting with that 5 second call we were completely taken out of of the game. NYs' length is definitely a problem but our inexperience was also a major factor.

I enjoyed watching Brunson sorta bust out while with Dallas and his emergence the first year with the Knicks... but I can already tell that his constant foul hunting is going to irritate the **** out of me all series. I hope the refs don't constantly bail him out. It's going to be chippy enough we don't need these bs calls when he's jumping into guys and initiating the contact. Brunson is going to make some tough shots and will probably have some big games, but I think we'll also be able to limit his effectiveness at times and wear him down as the series progresses.

KAT is the real problem. I don't know how we answer him. Like... no clue. He's not prime Shaq or anything, but offensively the dude is just a beast and we're way undersized. Even more so with their 2-big lineup. That dude is going to have a monster series.

OG played a hell of game too. Probably the best player on the court through all 4 quarters and maybe that's secretly the biggest problem. Like,... in my brain KAT & Brunson are going to get theirs kinda no matter what. You can try and make them tough shots but those guys are tough covers & elite shot makers. If OG is playing like this as a "3rd" or "4th" option... that's kinda scary. With Hart & Robinson etc these guys have the tools to give CLE/BOS problems. Health has sorta been their biggest issue this season.

Finally somebody who also points out the Pistons lack of size. They are a diminutive team which is astonishing they made the playoffs being so small.


I’m also surprised some people preferred the Knicks to playing other teams because the Knicks are about to sweep the Pistons. If Detroit couldn’t get this one I doubt they win a game. Reminded me of game 1 back in 2016 against the Cavs

I agree! I predicted sweep and I don't see it changing. We are small and a primary jump shooting team. You blitz Cade when he gives it who can create? What happens when Cade turns it over? You're not going hit jumps shots the whole game and we can't get easy baskets because we can't rebound

Thank you!!! This team really is not good at all, I could see it during the year in spurts. It would have been better for them to miss the playoffs again and be in the lottery TBH

They got by on the season as a bunch of “try hards” and their effort was great but the size and skill weren’t there.

Need size and shot makers. They don’t really have either

[Neptune]

No, not really. I was spot on right from the beginning of this game. Pistons aren’t very good. They just don’t pass the look test from a roster standpoint.

I guess the only positive is Jaden Ivey didn’t play and he’s the most talented guard on the team. It doesn’t address the lack of size inside though

Yes, we need Ivey back!

Yep. Cade is not a point guard (too slow and not a good ball handler) Ivey can at least explode and has an elite first step even though his ball handling is worse than Cades

They're both combo guards and they play well with each other. When we play against good teams we get exposed without having a good secondary scorer in our starting lineup. It happens every time unless Harris or Hardaway explodes.

[Cowology]

Finally somebody who also points out the Pistons lack of size. They are a diminutive team which is astonishing they made the playoffs being so small.


I’m also surprised some people preferred the Knicks to playing other teams because the Knicks are about to sweep the Pistons. If Detroit couldn’t get this one I doubt they win a game. Reminded me of game 1 back in 2016 against the Cavs

I agree! I predicted sweep and I don't see it changing. We are small and a primary jump shooting team. You blitz Cade when he gives it who can create? What happens when Cade turns it over? You're not going hit jumps shots the whole game and we can't get easy baskets because we can't rebound

Thank you!!! This team really is not good at all, I could see it during the year in spurts. It would have been better for them to miss the playoffs again and be in the lottery TBH

They got by on the season as a bunch of “try hards” and their effort was great but the size and skill weren’t there.

Need size and shot makers. They don’t really have either

That's overly harsh and frankly the doom/gloom and overwhelming negativity is tired & played out. We've been listening to this **** for 17 yrs. If you can't be happy and enjoy *this* season, then you either aren't a true Piston fan and/or are just looking to spread negativity. I have little time for either, but my advice would be to find a little more hope in life. Things are rarely quite as bleak (or as serious) as we make them out to be and there is a LOT to be excited about.

[Mr Peanut]

Some weird takes in this thread. We lose one game and someone is saying that Ivey is our most talented guard.

This went how anyone could expect. We are primarily a young team with our key guys playing their first playoff game in the Garden against a battle tested Knicks team. We went toe for toe (and even better) up until the 4th quarter before our inexperience really showed through. Our guys will learn from that.

The key is how they respond next game. Having a healthy Stew on the court will be vital. Duren needs more defensive effort. Cade needs to learn how to navigate the double teams/blitzes better. Ausar needs to moderate his foul tendencies. If all of those things happen we are in with a good shot of winning at least a game or two. I'm not going to write them off just yet.

[GreekAlex]

Some weird takes in this thread. We lose one game and someone is saying that Ivey is our most talented guard.

This went how anyone could expect. We are primarily a young team with our key guys playing their first playoff game in the Garden against a battle tested Knicks team. We went toe for toe (and even better) up until the 4th quarter before our inexperience really showed through. Our guys will learn from that.

The key is how they respond next game. Having a healthy Stew on the court will be vital. Duren needs more defensive effort. Cade needs to learn how to navigate the double teams/blitzes better. Ausar needs to moderate his foul tendencies. If all of those things happen we are in with a good shot of winning at least a game or two. I'm not going to write them off just yet.

Good summary of points of emphasis going into next game.

I rarely acknowledge the bizarre takes, irrational negativity or trolling. The less we engage, the less reaction they receive and hopefully it kills the feedback loop.

On to game 2!

[MotownMadness]

Gonna need to handle our home games

[Homelander87]

I agree! I predicted sweep and I don't see it changing. We are small and a primary jump shooting team. You blitz Cade when he gives it who can create? What happens when Cade turns it over? You're not going hit jumps shots the whole game and we can't get easy baskets because we can't rebound

Thank you!!! This team really is not good at all, I could see it during the year in spurts. It would have been better for them to miss the playoffs again and be in the lottery TBH

They got by on the season as a bunch of “try hards” and their effort was great but the size and skill weren’t there.

Need size and shot makers. They don’t really have either

That's overly harsh and frankly the doom/gloom and overwhelming negativity is tired & played out. We've been listening to this **** for 17 yrs. If you can't be happy and enjoy *this* season, then you either aren't a true Piston fan and/or are just looking to spread negativity. I have little time for either, but my advice would be to find a little more hope in life. Things are rarely quite as bleak (or as serious) as we make them out to be and there is a LOT to be excited about.

It’s not harsh at all. The problem with a lot of people on this board is that the Pistons have been so bad for so long the expectations have changed and people are happy to just make the playoffs. NO!!!

They need to make the playoffs and make deep runs again. That is the expectation and to get swept again which is likely to happen in this series is not really making progress. I would have rather been in the draft lottery than have been swept in round 1

[Canadafan]

Geez. That 4th quarter was a blur to me.
I had such high hope after this....

Read on Twitter

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Then it all just spiraled outta control. Not having Stew is huge for us. Hes our heart and soul and makes our defense go. Without him we might have to go small and actually play Fontecchio and Holland more which I never thought I'd be hoping for. Let's go Fontecchio!!

[Canadafan]

It's tough cause they're blitzin Cade. He needs another ball handler out there. Only guy is Shröder, which is great. But then we instantly become a tiny team because we also need shooters out there so THJr or Beasley basically gotta be a SF and that's no good. Defensively that's horrible. Combine that with Duren being a sieve and not having Stewart.. yikes!

Oh well, it's just 1 game. No need to worry too much. Steal game 2 and we have a series.
Cade will be prepared for game2 after watching film no doubt

[hoophabit]

If they can get one win in this series this will be an astoundingly successful season following a 14 win debacle. If not, all things considered, only a very successful one. Three chances remain. The one truly huge concern from this game IMO is Stewart's apparent injury.

It's nice that intermittent posters rush in to inform us about team weaknesses that most of us have acknowledged from the beginning. Comments like 'Cade is not very good,' and 'Duren is only 6'10"' (an observation that makes clear why trading for Ben Wallace was such a huge mistake) offer incisive and insightful analysis, and are surely intended to bolster the spirits of disappointed fellow Pistons fans. Personally, I'm content to let the youngsters grow and learn without feeling compelled to disparage them.

I'm a little surprised we haven't see Vege yet, or perhaps we have?

[Snakebites]

We've got like three guys in our rotation that had ever been in a playoff game. Our average age is 24 and we aren't the Thunder.

I'll own up to being pretty bummed out after that 21-0 run. It was painful to watch. But folks do need to remember where this team was a year ago. We're still a work in progress.

[MrBigShot]

Finally somebody who also points out the Pistons lack of size. They are a diminutive team which is astonishing they made the playoffs being so small.


I’m also surprised some people preferred the Knicks to playing other teams because the Knicks are about to sweep the Pistons. If Detroit couldn’t get this one I doubt they win a game. Reminded me of game 1 back in 2016 against the Cavs

I agree! I predicted sweep and I don't see it changing. We are small and a primary jump shooting team. You blitz Cade when he gives it who can create? What happens when Cade turns it over? You're not going hit jumps shots the whole game and we can't get easy baskets because we can't rebound

Thank you!!! This team really is not good at all, I could see it during the year in spurts. It would have been better for them to miss the playoffs again and be in the lottery TBH

They got by on the season as a bunch of “try hards” and their effort was great but the size and skill weren’t there.

Need size and shot makers. They don’t really have either

You ain't no damn pistons fan and nobody wants to read your low effort troll takes on this forum.

[Homelander87]

I agree! I predicted sweep and I don't see it changing. We are small and a primary jump shooting team. You blitz Cade when he gives it who can create? What happens when Cade turns it over? You're not going hit jumps shots the whole game and we can't get easy baskets because we can't rebound

Thank you!!! This team really is not good at all, I could see it during the year in spurts. It would have been better for them to miss the playoffs again and be in the lottery TBH

They got by on the season as a bunch of “try hards” and their effort was great but the size and skill weren’t there.

Need size and shot makers. They don’t really have either

You ain't no damn pistons fan and nobody wants to read your low effort troll takes on this forum.

It’s a good thing then that I don’t care about your worthless opinion.

[Canadafan]

I agree! I predicted sweep and I don't see it changing. We are small and a primary jump shooting team. You blitz Cade when he gives it who can create? What happens when Cade turns it over? You're not going hit jumps shots the whole game and we can't get easy baskets because we can't rebound

Thank you!!! This team really is not good at all, I could see it during the year in spurts. It would have been better for them to miss the playoffs again and be in the lottery TBH

They got by on the season as a bunch of “try hards” and their effort was great but the size and skill weren’t there.

Need size and shot makers. They don’t really have either

You ain't no damn pistons fan and nobody wants to read your low effort troll takes on this forum.

Block him like the rest of us have. Then he goes away and can talk to himself lol

[Canadafan]

Hopefully JB doesn't panic and just sticks with same rotation. Give Ausar a chance to make up for his horrible game lol. He's got it in him. I believe in him if he just doesn't try to do too much.
But....a quick substitution is fine. Shröder and Cade with Beasley Tobias and Duren has to be our main guys. And THJr alternating.
Duren, although he's a bit of a train wreck defensively can rebound the ball and run pnr with Cade. 3 shooters opens it up for Cade. And having Shröder there helps with ball handling. We gonna be ok.
Stew might miss next game. Gives him 5 days rest before gm3. If we win gm2, rest him till gm4. We need him to set the tone for us defensively.
Reed gonna have to come in and give us some production.
Also, hopefully Holland is ready to give us some bigger minutes gm2. Either him or Fontecchio need to step up and give us a spark.

[Canadafan]

Read on Twitter

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Tobias going for 40 next game hahaha. Feed the ball to Tobias!

[MortSahlfan]

There's no way we lose if we had a healthy Stew in the 4th quarter.

[Kalamazoo317]

The series is young. We were winning after three and then our inexperience showed. It's time to earn some scars. Just happy we're here!

Definitely joining the "block party" for the overreaction theater from some of the less mature posters, though.

[Snakebites]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the reactions here- the 4th quarter was objectively bad.

I think people do need to take a step back and look at the big picture here though.