The Detroit Pistons Could Cause Problems In The Playoffs
Former player Udonis Haslem believes the Pistons can knock out the New York Knicks in the first round
The Detroit Pistons have been one of the surprising teams in the NBA. After five years of falling short of the postseason, it seems as if they are heading back to the playoffs.
As the Eastern Conference standings currently present themselves, the Pistons will match up with the New York Knicks in the first round.
On a recent segment of ESPN’s NBA Today, former player Udonis Haslem expressed his concerns for the Knicks if they do happen to battle the Pistons in a series.
"I'm looking at Detroit, and I'm saying, ‘This could be a 1st round exit for New York.’” - Udonis Haslem
Both teams have familiarity with each other
The Pistons and the Knicks have battled each a total of three times this season, with one more game remaining.
The Pistons hold a 2-1 lead in their season series right now. In their two victories against the Knicks, the Pistons put together an all-around massive effort as all starters scored in double-figures.
However, during their lone loss to the Knicks on Nov. 1, it was Cade Cunningham who carried them with 22 points. The next leading scorer was Tobias Harris, who had 13 points.
The Pistons are a well-oiled machine
Even though the Pistons are the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, they have the talent to compete with the best teams.
Cunningham is their leading scorer with an average of 25.6 points, but others have also stepped up. While Malik Beasley and Harris have proven they can still score at a respectable level, young guard Jaden Ivey contributes with his high offensive athleticism.
The Pistons are also strong defensively. While Cunningham does a decent job of racking up steals, Jalen Duren focuses on protecting the rim. Small forward Ausar Thompson is also an outstanding defender, averaging 1.7 steals this year.
If the Pistons continue producing like this going into the playoffs, they could be a nightmare matchup for any team.
Cory Nelson is a contributor to The Lead. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson, Instagram @ckenzynelson, and Threads @ckenzynelson