GT: Pistons vs Knicks GAME 2 4/21/25 @ 7:30 pm on TNT

[Guano]

I'm going to miss the first half because of life responsibilities - learn from my mistakes - stay single, minimize responsibilities and you won't be in the terrible place I'm in of missing knicks playoff hoops.

[knicks1999]

I miss the first half as well in the West Coast….game starts while I am at work

[Ravenxvirall]

Really hope we come out with a hot start and bury these fake tough guys.

[Guano]

I miss the first half as well in the West Coast….game starts while I am at work

Same, but I'll be in a dumb meeting or I'd stream it

[Jeff Van Gully]

I think he is fine.

Last game, he got to rest for a while. Mikal comes in the 4th quarter I think and Brunson immediately set him up for a middy

Mikal probably has the best mid-range game out of anyone in the series. It's going to come in handy in the playoffs when teams figure out how take away the paint and the three.

we have so many options we don't really need him to put up those big numbers right now. he's there when we call his number.

he's done what's been needed every game of every season since he was a child and it is largely ignored. mans is fighting through wild screens and running MILES chasing guys around. thankless dirty work that sets up the plays that get glory.

mikal is really is one of those guys for whom the stat sheet doesn't tell the story. i feel glad for him that he's getting that respect in the locker room when he's not getting it from the fans and media.

not excusing the early poor shooting, but i'm not worried about dude anymore. the role is a little weird and he's overqualified for it. but this is what sacrifice looks like sometimes.

I thought he was solid defensively on Saturday.

My concern is how can the team pay him 40m a season and be able to function with the apron limiting everything. Plus Brunson's pay day is imminent

cap rules everything around me from this year on.

[knicks1999]

I miss the first half as well in the West Coast….game starts while I am at work

Same, but I'll be in a dumb meeting or I'd stream it

No meetings for me today….will be watching the game on my phone until I am off!

[Guano]

I miss the first half as well in the West Coast….game starts while I am at work

Same, but I'll be in a dumb meeting or I'd stream it

No meetings for me today….will be watching the game on my phone until I am off!

Im tempted to pull up my phone to watch it in this meeting too.

Fck em.

[Jeff Van Gully]

But that's my general problem with the set-up of this team. We want JB, KAT, OG and Mikal to be aggressive. But realistically that is not going to happen. JB and KAT are our best offensive players----if both of them take 20+ shots, which they should and OG takes 15-18, then Mikal is going to have trouble getting much more than 10-12 really. There are not going to be enough shots.

dude has to get the ball in position to do something to be aggressive. realistically, there's usually a better option than his midrange shot. we lean on it when we need to.

could there be more offensive creativity overall? sure. but how many brunson/KAT/OG shots do i really want to trade for mikal shots?

This goes back to my problem with rotations. Outside of the first 4-5 mins in each half. 2 of Brunson/KAT/OG/Mikal should always be on the floor. Ideally you pair KAT and Mikal and Brunson and OG.

But for me it's not all about his scoring. He also doesn't seem as aggressive on defense compared to 2 years ago. Is it him? Is it the scheme? I don't know but something is off.

thibs went 9 last game. how many minutes did we get with just the 4 bench players and one scorer? not challenging. legit trying to think of it.

also, i think the look of mikal's game is not glamorous on either end. when he does get the ball he seems to be looking for that mid range aggressively now. would love to see him let it fly more, even contested. but we are really disciplined with shot selection in general.

on defense, what he's doing isn't translating into flashy stocks (except when they do, i.e.: late game heroics). but you'd be hard pressed to find a defensive "glue guy" of sorts like him.

even for cheap there just aren't that many guys who can/will do all that cardio through the hits -- and have his disruptive arms. he's special and unusual.

[GONYK]

dude has to get the ball in position to do something to be aggressive. realistically, there's usually a better option than his midrange shot. we lean on it when we need to.

could there be more offensive creativity overall? sure. but how many brunson/KAT/OG shots do i really want to trade for mikal shots?

This goes back to my problem with rotations. Outside of the first 4-5 mins in each half. 2 of Brunson/KAT/OG/Mikal should always be on the floor. Ideally you pair KAT and Mikal and Brunson and OG.

But for me it's not all about his scoring. He also doesn't seem as aggressive on defense compared to 2 years ago. Is it him? Is it the scheme? I don't know but something is off.

thibs went 9 last game. how many minutes did we get with just the 4 bench players and one scorer? not challenging. legit trying to think of it.

also, i think the look of mikal's game is not glamorous on either end. when he does get the ball he seems to be looking for that mid range aggressively now. would love to see him let it fly more, even contested. but we are really disciplined with shot selection in general.

on defense, what he's doing isn't translating into flashy stocks (except when they do, i.e.: late game heroics). but you'd be hard pressed to find a defensive "glue guy" of sorts like him.

even for cheap there just aren't that many guys who can/will do all that cardio through the hits -- and have his disruptive arms. he's special and unusual.

He's apex Ariza and people want him to be OG.

[Besart19]

The most important game of the season.

A win tonight it means a series and at least five days of rest ahead of the semis

[HarthorneWingo]

I asked AI what adjustments will the Pistons make in Game 2. This was its response:

Key Adjustments:

Cade Cunningham Off-Ball:

The Pistons will likely run more off-ball plays for Cunningham, especially when he's screened by wings, to get him going downhill and make scoring easier.

Slipped Screens:

Utilizing more slipped screens can catch the Knicks defense off guard and give Cunningham opportunities to exploit the spacing.

Ausar Thompson's Impact:

The Pistons will likely try to get Ausar Thompson more involved in the game, as he was limited by foul trouble in Game 1.

Limiting Turnovers:

The Pistons will focus on reducing turnovers, which nearly doubled the Knicks in Game 1.

Defensive Adjustments:

The Pistons will likely focus on improving their defensive rotations, particularly with Jalen Duren, and potentially utilize a lineup with Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns if needed.

Isaiah Stewart's Absence:

The Pistons will have to adjust to the absence of Isaiah Stewart, who was a key defensive player.

[HarthorneWingo]

The most important game of the season.

A win tonight it means a series and at least five days of rest ahead of the semis

… so far

[Fat Kat]

Read on Twitter

[god shammgod]

This goes back to my problem with rotations. Outside of the first 4-5 mins in each half. 2 of Brunson/KAT/OG/Mikal should always be on the floor. Ideally you pair KAT and Mikal and Brunson and OG.

But for me it's not all about his scoring. He also doesn't seem as aggressive on defense compared to 2 years ago. Is it him? Is it the scheme? I don't know but something is off.

thibs went 9 last game. how many minutes did we get with just the 4 bench players and one scorer? not challenging. legit trying to think of it.

also, i think the look of mikal's game is not glamorous on either end. when he does get the ball he seems to be looking for that mid range aggressively now. would love to see him let it fly more, even contested. but we are really disciplined with shot selection in general.

on defense, what he's doing isn't translating into flashy stocks (except when they do, i.e.: late game heroics). but you'd be hard pressed to find a defensive "glue guy" of sorts like him.

even for cheap there just aren't that many guys who can/will do all that cardio through the hits -- and have his disruptive arms. he's special and unusual.

He's apex Ariza and people want him to be OG.

people's expectations are based on his price which is only fair

[WargamesX]

Man I hope we win this game!!! Let’s maintain HC advantage!!!

[offense]

that sucks that stewart is out, i like maximum competition.

[Iron Mantis]

Dammit Mikal shoot the dam 3

[Ravenxvirall]

Dammit Mikal shoot the dam 3

He’s so damn afraid to just let it fly sometimes

[robillionaire]

That ball denial by OG was crazy

[Iron Mantis]

CALL THE AMBERLAMPS!!! MAN DOWN!!! BROKEN ANKLES!!