MSG Network Analyst Wally Szczerbiak said the Knicks had to overcome “fractured confidence” and below the disappearance of the piston is indictment in the locker room.
“We’ll learn a lot right away about the interior of this locker room in this series,” Szczerbiak said in the MSG Network’s playoff preview show. “Because the talent is there. When you go to players for players, they should blow this Detroit team.
“If they don’t control this series, there’s something wrong with that locker room going on.”
The third seeded Knicks are a heavy first-round favorite against the 6th Pistons, who are about to win their first playoff game since 2008.
But Detroit beat New York in three of the four direct heads of the season, including Friday at Little Caesar Arena.
The Knicks entered Game 1 on Saturday and lost three of the four to end the regular season. Jalen Branson has found bearings and rhythms after a month of absence from injuries.
The Knicks renovated their roster last summer by buying up Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony Towns for a ton of assets, but they had one win and a lower East seed than last season.
“Chemistry isn’t where it was in the playoffs last year, that’s something this team needs to find right away,” Szczerbiak said. “Jalen Brunson is the captain. He is the head of that locker room. He has to play at a role model and high level to make everyone comfortable.
“And getting this playoff season and getting these playoff games to the right start will set the tone with Jalen Brunson and everyone else will follow.”
Former Timberwolves All-Star Szczerbiak added that Knicks will take Detroit’s confidence and bullying tendencies by dominating Game 1 with MSG.
“You’re a better team. You’re a more skilled team. You’ve been able to fit your physicality, but you can’t put that in your head,” Szczerbiak said. “That’s when the pistons win – let them talk about your play when they get into your head with their little collisions, their little shimmies, their little demeanor. You have the advantage of a home court.
“And that physicality will disappear.”
