The Detroit Pistons will face the New York Knicks on ESPN today at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series. Every word of that sentence was a wonder to type. The Pistons won three of four against the Knicks this season, but playoff basketball is different, and New York has the upper hand in playoff experience. The Knicks have made the playoffs in four of the past five seasons, including three in a row. The Pistons are in the playoffs for the first time in six years and looking for their first playoff victory for the first time in the better part of two decades.
Game Vitals
When: 6 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Watch: ESPN
Odds: Pistons +7
Analysis
We’ve gone over countless narratives leading up to this series, and there will surely be plenty of storylines to obsess over following Game 1. Perhaps instead of a player- or psychoanalysis, it’s time for a bit of the tale of the tape. How do these two teams compare to each other, and what made them so successful this season?
Team Ratings
Offensive Rating
- Detroit Pistons: 114.6 (ranked 14th)
- New York Knicks: 117.5 (5th)
Defensive Rating
- Detroit Pistons: 112.5 (10th)
- New York Knicks: 113.3 (13th)
Net Rating
- Detroit Pistons: +2.1 (12th)
- New York Knicks: +4 (8th)
This table is proving impossible to align with SB Nation responsive styles effectively, and the embedded table leaves a lot to be desired, so here is a handy link for everyone — Pistons vs. Knicks – Tale of the Tape.
Projected Starters
Detroit Pistons (0-0)
Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway Jr., Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
New York Knicks (0-0)
Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns
Question of the Day
How we feeling? (in gif form)
