The New York Knicks come into tonight with a chance to not only end the Detroit Pistons’ season but also close out a playoff series at home for the first time since June 11th, 1999. But they always say that the elimination game is the hardest. It’s an overused quote, but it’s overused because it’s almost always true. The Knicks are certainly happy to be up 3-1 in the series, but they know that the series is far from over and if they want to keep this series from getting uncomfortably close, they may have to play better than they have thus far, because this Pistons team won’t quit or back down. But what exactly do the Knicks need to do to send Detroit packing, and end their season?
Match Detroit’s energy and get off to a good start.
The Knicks, like any other team, have a significantly better record when they win the first quarter. And the same has been true so far in this series. In game one, New York, and Detroit were tied after the first period, but games three, and four, both of which went the Knicks’ way, saw New York up after the first quarter. And the only time they lost a game this series, happens to be the only time they lost the first quarter. The Pistons will surely come into Madison Square Garden tonight knowing their season is on the line, and they’ll play like it. If the Knicks can match that energy, and hold the Pistons’ first punches, they’ll put themselves in a good position to end the series tonight.
Put them away if given the chance.
If the Knicks do end up getting off to a good start, and are given the kind of opportunities to step on the Pistons’ throats and put them away early, they must do so. In the second quarter of game four, New York missed multiple wide-open threes that would’ve put the game out of reach. Whiffing on those shots kept the young Pistons confident and within reaching distance, and it almost ended up costing the Knicks a game. They cannot make the same mistake tonight.
Fix the third quarter woes.
New York’s third quarter woes have plagued them all season long. For some reason, they often come out of halftime flat. Offensively, they often end up becoming stagnant, and going away from the kind of ball, and player movement that gave them success in the first half. And when the offense does go motionless and cold, it bleeds into the other end of the floor. They give up more transition opportunities, and they sometimes let their lack of offensive success dictate their defensive focus, and energy. So far in this series, the Knicks haven’t won a single third quarter. They lost the third period by a combined 24 points in games one, and three, both of which the Knicks somehow ended up winning, and lost the period by two points, and three points in games two, and three respectively. They can beat Detroit even without winning the third quarter. But seeing as the first and fourth quarters usually go the Knicks’ way, they can make their jobs significantly easier tonight if they can win, or at the very least, go even in the third quarter.
Keep the role players at bay.
Cade Cunningham will get his. The Knicks have done a decent job of being physical, and making things tough on him. And to their credit, he’s only scored more than 25 points once this series. But the young standout is still averaging 25.8PPG on 44.4% shooting from the field and has gotten pretty good looks throughout the series. The real difference maker offensively for Detroit though has been their role players. In game one, Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley combined for 64 points. In game two, Harris, and Dennis Schroder combined for 35 points. In game three, Hardaway Jr., Schroder, and Beasley combined for 54 points, and in Game Four, Harris, Hardaway Jr., and Beasley combined for 47 points.
Thankfully for New York, Detroit hasn’t had a game where all four of their secondary options go off, but as you can see, at least two of them have had big games in pretty much every game in this series. The Knicks will have a hard time limiting Cunningham and stopping every role player. Their defense just isn’t good enough, and they don’t have the personnel to do so. But they still need to do what they can to try and limit the “others”. If they can keep Harris, Hardaway Jr., Schroder, and Beasley to a combined 50 points or less, they should have enough to win the game.
Get some help from the bench.
As has been the case for much of the regular season, the Knicks’ bench has been outscored and outplayed in this series. And the Knicks, outside of Cameron Payne’s magical fourth quarter in game one, haven’t really gotten anything from their bench. Their second unit gave them eight points in 42 minutes in game two, nine points in 38 minutes in game three, and five points in 38 minutes in game four. Payne has quieted since scoring 14 points in the series opener. Deuce McBride has struggled mightily in the series, shooting just 33% from the field, and 24% from three. Landry Shamet, despite finishing the season very strong, hasn’t gotten much time, and even when he has, he hasn’t done much. And Mitchell Robinson hasn’t looked quite right over the last two games.
Given the roster makeup and the strength of the starting unit, the bench doesn’t need to, and likely won’t dominate. But if New York can get more than they’ve gotten in the last three games, which isn’t a hard ask, it could go a long way in making the difference tonight. Be it another explosive game from Payne, getting a vintage Robinson game, or the kind of breakout performance fans have been anticipating from McBride, the Knicks could surely use some extra spark against a team playing for their season.