Motown story
The NBA’s most improved team this season is waiting for the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs, starting on Saturday in the yard.
Five important things to know about the Pistons are they won 44 games from the league’s worst 14-68 mark a year ago.
Say his name
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith misidentified him as “Wade” in a social media post last week, but 2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham continues his ascension to stardom this season with a career-best average assist of 26.1 points per game and 9.1 assists.
OG Anunoby and/or Mikal Bridges could potentially bring out key defensive missions against dynamic 6-foot-6 point guards.
Cunningham – Motorcade dubbed fitting at Motown – torched the Knicks for triple doubles in December and 36-point performances in January and April.
Let’s go to the vet
The Pistons’ advancements were also attributed to a steady contribution from a handful of experienced imports: Long Island products Tobias Harris, former Nick Tim Hardaway Jr. and former Net Dennis Schroeder.
Return to business
The Pistons have experienced a massive dry spell since their sixth consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference Finals from 2003 to 2008.
In fact, Detroit hasn’t won a single playoff game since its run ended with the Cavaliers in 2009 and 2016 and the Bucks on their last three postseason trips in 2019.
Grow Ivey?
Cunningham’s backcourt buddy Jaden Evie also enjoyed his best season (17.6 ppg, 3-41%) when he fell with a broken leg in January.
The third year security guard may be ready to resume basketball activities and return to the second half of the series.
From the palace to “Pizza! Pizza!”
The malice of the Auburn Hills palace in “Bad Boys” Glory Days was replaced by a move to Little Caesars Arena in 2017, but Detroit posted the same 22-19 split at home and on the road under first-year coach JB Vickerstaff this season.
The Pistons are already taking steps to prevent invasion by Knicks fans next week by restricting ticket sales outside the region, but there’s not much to do about the secondary market.
