New 12 months, identical outcome: The Knicks nonetheless can’t beat the Detroit Pistons.
Thursday’s 15-point loss to a center-less Detroit crew dropped New York to 0-3 this season and 1-6 over the past two years in opposition to a gaggle now working away with the Japanese Convention’s No. 1 seed.
Sure, the Knicks eradicated the Pistons in a six-game first-round playoff collection final spring.
There isn’t any assure they will do it once more.
If Thursday was any indication, they received’t.
“It’s a brand new 12 months,” crew captain Jalen Brunson mentioned plainly.
It’s — a brand new coach, new philosophies and heightened expectations. New stakes, too. In an Japanese Convention out of the blue extensive open after main accidents to Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, alternative has by no means regarded clearer. If the Knicks can’t capitalize now, it’s honest to surprise when they may.
Not less than as at present constructed.
Which brings us again to Detroit — and a loss that minimize deeper than the standings. The Knicks fell to fifteen losses in 27 video games in opposition to groups with successful information, however this one stood aside. Neglect the sooner 38- and 31-point blowouts. The Pistons had been with out All-Star heart Jalen Duren and reserve enforcer Isaiah Stewart — and nonetheless beat a largely wholesome Knicks squad by 15.
“No one needs to lose. And all people is disillusioned. And I’m positive all people is attempting to determine how they may’ve performed higher to assist the crew win. So it’s not a enjoyable feeling,” head coach Mike Brown mentioned after the loss. “It shouldn’t be a enjoyable feeling for me or anyone else in that locker room.
“However for positive it’s not the tip of the world. We’ve received to regroup, watch the movie to see learn how to get higher and get the subsequent one.”
Possibly the Knicks consider they will flip a change when the video games matter most. Contenders throughout eras warn in opposition to that strategy, but New York has leaned on it earlier than — beating the Spurs to win the NBA Cup and final season surviving Detroit earlier than beautiful Boston in Spherical 2.
However playoff religion turns into tougher to promote when the identical opponent has your quantity. And proper now, the Pistons have the Knicks on velocity dial.
“[The regular season] means so much. It builds the boldness going into that playoff collection, and in addition you will have nice movie to see what did work in opposition to our crew and in opposition to their crew,” Karl-Anthony Cities mentioned. “I do know you’re speaking about seeing them within the playoffs, however we’ve received to get there first. For standings, you at all times need to win. You need to be sure you give your self the most effective likelihood to regulate your future.”
One of many Knicks’ latest additions dismissed the lengthy view — comprehensible for somebody not right here for final 12 months’s warning indicators or this season’s blowouts.
“Yeah playoffs is an entire totally different ballgame. We’re not gonna sit right here and say, ‘Oh simply because they beat us within the common season…’ We’re not pondering like that,” Jose Alvarado mentioned. “I don’t suppose like that. When it counts, that’s when it issues. So we’re going to play like that.”
The Knicks are betting the playoffs will inform a special story. Detroit retains writing the identical one.
