NEW YORK – The Detroit Pistons are facing elimination as they’re down 3-1 to the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but here are the game plan adjustments they need to make to come back and win the series.
The Pistons lost both Games 3 and 4 in Detroit, so they’ll have to start the comeback on the road.
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The Pistons are 22-19 when playing on the road this year, so they can win on the road.
Game 5 takes place Tuesday, April 29, at Madison Square Garden, where the Pistons outplayed the Knicks, stealing Game 2.
Limit Mistakes
The margin for error in each game has been razor thin, with a few key plays deciding the game.
Even though the Pistons are down 3-1, they could be leading this series. At the very least, the series should be tied after a missed foul call on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 3-point shot cost the Pistons in Game 4.
Despite the controversial no-call, the Pistons still have not played their best basketball in this series.
In each game, the Pistons are either trying to hold off a comeback or mount their own comeback.
They have yet to fully seize control of the game even after leading in the fourth quarter of Games 1, 2, and 4.
The Pistons usually start losing control of the game when they go on extended turnover runs.
Cade Cunningham is the team’s primary ball-handler, scorer, and playmaker, but he has contributed six turnovers per game through the playoffs.
Cunningham often turns the ball over when trying to make a play between two or three defenders.
Sometimes he takes it on himself to beat multiple defenders to make something out of nothing.
The Knicks have maintained active hands as he drives through a crowd, which has led to turnovers and massive offensive runs for the Knicks.
This young team has worked to correct its repeated fourth-quarter failures.
In 2023-2024, the Pistons would often go on a binge of turnovers, which often led to a collapse late in the game. This season, the Pistons learned how to correct this issue, but doing it in the playoffs is a whole new lesson.
For the rest of the series, the Pistons must limit mistakes and value each possession, especially in the fourth quarter.
Cunningham should be more mindful of his ball-handling when challenging multiple Knicks defenders.
Slow down the Knicks’ stars
This is easier said than done considering the Knicks stars are All-NBA second teamer Jalen Brunson and two-time All-NBA third teamer Karl-Anthony Towns.
Ausar Thompson has been Brunson’s primary defender but has had difficulty slowing him down due to foul trouble.
Thompson averages 4.3 fouls per game in the playoffs and fouled out in Game 2.
He is also struggling to make an impact offensively, which is contributing to his limited time on the floor.
Even though Thompson is a starter, he hasn’t played more than 23 minutes in a playoff game.
There has to be an alternative defender for the Pistons when Thompson goes out of the game.
Dennis Schröder is not a bad defender, but he lacks the size to compete with Brunson’s physical style of play.
The answer is Cunningham guarding Brunson. With Cunningham’s size and strength, he has the frame to contend with Brunson.
He doesn’t have to be the primary defender, but taking some possessions to guard Brunson could help contain him.
It would also help create a unique advantage in the pick-and-roll.
Tobias Harris has been Towns’ primary defender, and in the event of a Brunson and Towns pick-and-roll, Cunningham and Harris could switch the screen.
The defense will be more versatile, with Cunningham being more of an on-ball defender.
Harris has done a decent job on Towns, but foul trouble in Games 3 and 4 allowed Towns to have big games.
Harris has a tough assignment, but guarding without fouling will be key for the rest of the series.
Isaiah Stewart’s availability will also be necessary for the team’s overall defense. He’s been out since Game 2 with right knee inflammation.
Now’s the time to get hot
To pull off a 3-1 comeback, the Pistons need to get hot from the 3-point line.
Malik Beasley, who shot 42% from 3-point range on nine attempts per game this season, is shooting just 31% on 10 3-point attempts per game in the playoffs.
His shooting has been the second-most reliable source of points behind Cunningham this season, and the Pistons have missed his contributions so far.
The Pistons will need another source of offense, along with Cunningham, to fuel a 3-game win streak.
Schröder is a player capable of igniting the Pistons’ offense from the bench and making clutch plays.
If the Pistons are going to mount a comeback, Schroder will need to show up big.
Cunningham has largely deserted his pull-up three-point shot in the playoffs. During the regular season, Cunningham shot 36% from 3-point range on 6 attempts per game.
During the playoffs, Cunningham has shot 25% from 3-point range on four attempts.
The Pistons star tends to have his biggest scoring nights when the three-ball is falling, so if he gets a groove early, it could be a big scoring night for Cunningham.
One game at a time
With their backs against the wall, the Pistons simply have to mount this comeback one game at a time.
The Pistons have to make a statement win in Game 5 to show the Knicks that they can still fight with their backs against the wall.
If the Knicks get too comfortable and enter the game lackadaisically, the Pistons must take advantage of the opportunity.
Game 6 is winnable because it’d be back at LCA. The Pistons haven’t won a home playoff game yet, but pressure would be mounting against the Knicks as they would have to close out in Detroit.
If the Pistons win Games 5 and 6, anything can happen in Game 7. The Pistons would have all the momentum ahead of Game 7, while the Knicks would have a lot of pressure on them to close the series.
In NBA playoff history, 13 teams have overcome a 3-1 series deficit. The most recent 3-1 comeback was in 2020 by the Denver Nuggets, who became the first team to pull off two 3-1 comebacks in the same playoff year.
The Pistons have prevailed through this situation before. In 2003, they rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Magic in the first round of the Eastern Conference.