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

[bisme37]

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.

Fair point. But I believe that hasn't been the case all season, and the stat is they have only 1 win vs a team with a better record at the time of that game.

Your post makes me realize that is less insane than I was thinking though, so thanks.

[Johnny Tomala]

Knicks in 5.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I'm thinking 5 games for the Knicks.

[Patches Perry]

I could see this being a series where all the games are pretty close and competitive but Knicks win in like 5. I picked Knicks in 6 though. Pistons are fiery and I'm hoping that translates well into the playoffs.

[Thaddy]

KATs softness is going to be exposed in this series.

[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.

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.

Oh yeah… you’re right. Well in that case, I hope to see them in the ECF, but they’ll need to get past Boston first… which isn’t happening.

[bronxknicksfan1]

In 2023, Donovan Mitchell was the best player in the series.

In 2024, Joel Embiid was the best player in the series.

Now in 2025, Cade Cunningham is the best player in the series.

Gotta go out there and prove them wrong again, Jalen Brunson.

[jokeboy86]

Should be Knicks in 6 but Detroit is coming and they've looked hungry from day one. You would think that even if the Knicks were to lose this series that Thibs would still be safe but you just never know in today's NBA. I will say he's the most successful coach that Dolan has ever hired and Dolan has a way of ignoring NY fans/NY media so he would block out the noise which would call for Thibs head if they lose.

[Clav]

I can see both teams winning multiple games, so it's going to be a really fun series to watch. Can't wait to see! I'm gonna think this one out..let's go

okay, on the fly.... NYK has advantages slightly, A lot more playoff experience and overall I think each player matches up well with Detroit's. The Pistons have really played well though and will need contributions from guys that haven't been proven in playoffs.

THJ, Harris, and Beasley are their vets and off-games by any of them will hurt DET. Cade could be set up to have a massive series... I'm convinced he can "win you a game" if he really has a big night. Brunson is very clutch and can do the same so the guard play should be electric.

The wings and forwards also have some great matchups as Hart / Thompson for both teams are do-it-all defenders and rebounders. I trust Knicks a bit more on the wing than Detroit. Always interested in Thibs' rotation so we'll see how deep he goes into the bench if much at all.

Picking NYK in 6 really close games

[SlimShady83]

My predictions start of year was Knicks Dallas, I'm sticking with Knicks all the way

[Bad Bart]

Brunson can't run away from twin. He has show him something. Thompson will be the best defender Brunson will have ever seen in his playoffs career.

Read on Twitter

Can't wait to watch this matchup

[zeebneeb]

ALL STATS START FROM JAN 1ST BOLD=BETTER
*=Lead league #=league worst
(It more accurately reflects the Pistons team)

TRADITIONAL STATS

Win%-Pistons 30-19 .612 Knicks 27-21 .573
Points-Pistons 117.3 Knicks 114.4
REB-Pistons 45.0 Knicks 42.4
AST-Pistons 26.6 Knicks 27.2
STL-Pistons 8.6 Knicks 8.5
BLK-Pistons 5.4 Knicks 3.9#
+/--Pistons +5.2 Knicks +1.3
PF-Pistons 21.0# Knicks 16.8
TOV-Pistons 14.3 Knicks 13.4
FGA-Pistons 89.9 Knicks 90.4
FG%-Pistons 48.2 Knicks 47.9
3PA-Pistons 33.7 Knicks 32.5#
3P%-Pistons 36.2 Knicks 35.4
FTA-Pistons 23.6 Knicks 20.5
FT%-Pistons 77.9 Knicks 79.4

ADVANCED STATS

OFFRTG-Pistons 116.3 Knicks 115.4
DEFRTG-Pistons 110.8 Knicks 114.3
AST/TO-Pistons 1.86 Knicks 2.04
REB%-Pistons 51.1 Knicks 50.4
EFG%-Pistons 55.0 Knicks 54.3
TS%-Pistons 58.5 Knicks 57.5
PACE-Pistons 100.95 Knicks 97.55
PIE-Pistons 53.0 Knicks 51.4

MISC STATS-

PTS OFF TO-Pistons 19.1 Knicks 19.3
2ND C POINTS-Pistons 15.0 Knicks 14.5
FASTBPS-Pistons 19.8* Knicks 15.8
POINTS IN P-Pistons 55.8 Knicks 54.1
OPP P OFF TO-Pistons 16.4 Knicks 16.6
OPP 2 CH PNTS-Pistons 15.0 Knicks 13.4
OPP FBPS-Pistons 13.7 Knicks 14.8
OPP POINTS IN P-Pistons 46.0 Knicks 52.2


On paper, the Pistons should win/have the edge. In reality, this Pistons group, amd their best player, has zero playoff experience. New York gets it done this year, but they are gonna be bloodied, amd bruised when they get to the second round. Pistons lead the league in fouls, and they enjoy doing so.

[Riverwalk2021]

Coinflip series. Rooting for the Pistons to see a complete implosion of the Knicks organization.

[sp6r=underrated]

i don’t know how to feel

Same. I think NY is the better team but Detroit has been playing a lot better this calendar year.

Tough series.

This is the last playoff series with Thibs as the head coach.

Knicks eliminated in first round ==> Thibs fired.
Knicks get slaughtered by Boston ==> Thibs fired.
Knicks lose a very close series against Boston ==> Not sure.
Knicks make to the ECF ==> He's fine.

All I can say was he drove me bonkos when he was running starters in the Atlanta game last week.

[Mr Peanut]

I think ultimately Knicks win in 6 or 7 but it will be a tough series.

Posters in this thread speaking with certainty that it will be a Knicks walkover come across as casuals who clearly haven't watched the Pistons play this season.

[zeebneeb]

I think ultimately Knicks win in 6 or 7 but it will be a tough series.

Posters in this thread speaking with certainty that it will be a Knicks walkover come across as casuals who clearly haven't watched the Pistons play this season.

Thats for damn sure. They also haven't checked any kind of stats either.

The one thing(and its big)that gives me pause, is experience. That is huge, when it comes to young players. No idea what to expect out of Cade/Ausar/Duren/Holland/Stewart/Sasser.

Honestly could be that Cade is like Embiid in the playoffs. You just don't know, until you know. The big stage gets to some people...

[durden_tyler]

Knicks, 4-2 because i respect what the Pistons accomplished so far. But that's the same reason why the Pistons lose this series-- whatever happens (even a sweep), this season is already a success for them...

[ArksNetsSince99]

Pistons in 5

[ArksNetsSince99]

My predictions start of year was Knicks Dallas, I'm sticking with Knicks all the way

They both have equal chances to reach the finals , means 0 chance

[ArksNetsSince99]

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.

Did you hear this Bisme ?

It’s ringing in my ears already

Detroit fans in the Garden chanting…..

Detroitttttttttttttt Basketballlllllllllllllllllllll