2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East First Round: #3 New York Knicks vs #6 Detroit Pistons (Series tied 1-1)

[G R E Y]

Detroit's tough physicality and mentality remind me of Houston's. Both teams had to go through losing pain and with Detroit's closer in memory that fuel cannot be underestimated. Knicks have expectation pressure; Detroit, inexperience pressure.

It's going to be a great series.

[bisme37]

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[Wolfgang630]

This will probably be the most physical series and probably have a fight break out in one of the games.

[bisme37]

Is there a schedule for this series yet? These are always helpful, thanks!

No not yet

[bisme37]

Is there chance that Ivey will be back?

No. Out for the year.

Actually he was just cleared for basketball activities and will be reevaluated in 2 weeks. He won't play this series but it's not ruled out that he could play if the Pistons advance.

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[Nuntius]

if this is certain, shouldnt indy-bucks series be too?

The Indiana-Milwaukee series is also certain. It just doesn't have a thread yet.

[JujitsuFlip]

We already saw a jb coached team vs a Thibs coached team in the 2023 first round.

Pistons offense will be in the mudd, will try to turn the series into a rock fight.

I'm taking the Knicks to win the series because history will repeat itself and jb sucked as a coach in the 2022 play-in + 2023 and 2024 playoffs so i expect more of the same for this 2025 series.

I’m not going to pretend I’m scared of the Pistons unless they start injuring dudes, but you really gotta let it go and accept that Bickerstaff may have learned from some of his failings in Cleveland…the same way Thibs learned from his failure in Minnesota.

With no back to backs and our top 7 healthy, I feel really confident about this series, but this JB coached team isn’t the last JB coached team we beat in round 1.

We'll see man, jb didn't have the worst offense in the 2023 playoffs and bottom 3 offense in the 2024 playoffs for no reason, jb is just Bernie.

[azcatz11]

This reminds me of 90s playoff series or maybe early 00s. It’s going 7 games

[3ddman23]

If the Knicks lock in they are gonna stomp out Detroit. Some of y'all are supremely overating Detroit this year. They have guys to throw at cade all game (hart,bridges, og). I say Knicks in 5.

[Wolfgang630]

If the Knicks lock in they are gonna stomp out Detroit. Some of y'all are supremely overating Detroit this year. They have guys to throw at cade all game (hart,bridges, og). I say Knicks in 5.

I don’t see the Knicks winning in 5. I think Detroit will surprise, but ultimately lose.

[Chuck Everett]

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33 effin years ago. I watched that series with my Dad too. Those were the days.

[Chuck Everett]

Is there chance that Ivey will be back?

No. Out for the year.

Actually he was just cleared for basketball activities and will be reevaluated in 2 weeks. He won't play this series but it's not ruled out that he could play if the Pistons advance.

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Just highly doubtful Pistons are going to throw him into these high intensity games after missing so much time. He's bound to be rusty. Bringing him back now would only hurt the team.

[hardenASG13]

I got the Knicks in 6. Really respect Detroit but the Knicks are built for the playoffs and look like they'll be full strength for really the first time all season.

[Iwasawitness]

I can remember singing the Knicks praises at the start of the series and pissing my pants at the thought of facing them in a seven game series... now they're who I want to see in the second round. Nothing seemed to click for them and Robinson took a lot longer to come back from injury than I thought. And of course, we can't ignore the insane amount of minutes Thibs has given his top players. Knicks have an incredible roster on paper, but it just hasn't materialized the way many had hoped.

With all of that said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Pistons came away from this one. But I also wouldn't be surprised if the Knicks won too. This is going to be a tough series to call, can't wait to see it all play out.

[bisme37]

I'm expecting this thread to be pretty fiery, and playoffs usually attract fans who don't often post on the GB, so here's a friendly preemptive reminder that will hopefully save me time and work in the long run and help people avoid getting banned and whatnot:

Personal attacks are not allowed.

Disagree with each other's posts as strongly as you'd like but don't insult each other personally.

That's all I wanted to say about that. Carry on.

[JujitsuFlip]

I can remember singing the Knicks praises at the start of the series and pissing my pants at the thought of facing them in a seven game series... now they're who I want to see in the second round. Nothing seemed to click for them and Robinson took a lot longer to come back from injury than I thought. And of course, we can't ignore the insane amount of minutes Thibs has given his top players. Knicks have an incredible roster on paper, but it just hasn't materialized the way many had hoped.

With all of that said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Pistons came away from this one. But I also wouldn't be surprised if the Knicks won too. This is going to be a tough series to call, can't wait to see it all play out.

If the Cavs wanna see the Knicks it will not be until the ECF (round 3), they're on the opposite side of the bracket.

[bisme37]

I know the Knicks went 0-10 vs OKC/CLE/BOS.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe they also have only 1 win all season vs a team with a better record than them, which is a pretty astounding accomplishment for a 3 seed.

Seems like they've made a living out of beating up on bad team this season, and the Pistons are not a bad team. I give the Knicks the edge because of experience but this is going to be close imo.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I know the Knicks went 0-10 vs OKC/CLE/BOS.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe they also have only 1 win all season vs a team with a better record than them, which is a pretty astounding accomplishment.

Seems like they've made a living out of beating up on bad team this season, and the Pistons are not a bad team. I give the Knicks the edge because of experience but this is going to be close imo.

OKC has 0 wins against teams with a better record than them.

Cleveland has only 1 win against teams with a better record than them.

[bisme37]

I know the Knicks went 0-10 vs OKC/CLE/BOS.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe they also have only 1 win all season vs a team with a better record than them, which is a pretty astounding accomplishment.

Seems like they've made a living out of beating up on bad team this season, and the Pistons are not a bad team. I give the Knicks the edge because of experience but this is going to be close imo.

OKC has 0 wins against teams with a better record than them.

Cleveland has only 1 win against teams with a better record than them.

Well there aren't any teams with better records than those teams for them to beat haha.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I know the Knicks went 0-10 vs OKC/CLE/BOS.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe they also have only 1 win all season vs a team with a better record than them, which is a pretty astounding accomplishment.

Seems like they've made a living out of beating up on bad team this season, and the Pistons are not a bad team. I give the Knicks the edge because of experience but this is going to be close imo.

OKC has 0 wins against teams with a better record than them.

Cleveland has only 1 win against teams with a better record than them.

Well there aren't any teams with better records than those teams for them to beat haha.

Right and the only teams with a better record than the Knicks are the 3 teams you mentioned plus Houston.