The Knicks are set to play the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs, and Stan Van Gundy has spoken honestly about their chances.
He thinks NY may find themselves in a tough battle and a seven-game series against a physical Pistons outfit.
“They are really, really good at the defensive end,” Van Gundy said. “They rebound the heck out of the ball. Look, that team can match up with New York. I think that would be a tough series. I’m not a great predictor, but I think the games in that series would be hard-fought. I’d probably take the Knicks in seven.”
Van Gundy continued, “I don’t think there’s that much separating those two teams. Actually, as far as the Knicks at full strength, I think that Detroit would scare me more if I were a Knick fan than Milwaukee or Indiana. Even though Indiana beat ‘em last year, the Knicks weren’t at full strength. Now if [Damian] Lillard is there, whole different ballgame. I’d still take the Knicks, but now I think it would be a competitive series.”
Unlike Van Gundy, others think New York won’t progress any further than they already have.
“I don’t think they’re good enough to advance to the second round,” O’Neal said. “That’s just me personally.”
James Edwards III of The Athletic tends to agree.
“It’s hard to beat a good team twice, let alone three and four times like the Celtics have New York,” Edwards wrote. “The Knicks are hoping the odds even out when basketball matters most, assuming they can get past the Detroit Pistons or Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs and get another crack at Boston. But for now, all New York has is hope… Hope that playing Boston closely once unlocks something psychologically, like believing they can hang with the defending champs if they get one more shot.”
The Knicks were 0-10 against the Top 3 teams in the NBA:
vs. Celtics (0-4)
vs. Cavaliers (0-4)
vs. Thunder (0-2)
