Talk of the Motown
The most improved team in the NBA this season awaits the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs beginning Saturday at the Garden.
Here are five important things to know about the Pistons, who won 44 games — up from a league-worst 14-68 mark one year ago — to capture the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference for their first postseason appearance since 2019:
Say his name
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith mistakenly identified him as “Wade” in a social media post last week, but 2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham continued his ascension into stardom this season with career-best averages of 26.1 points and 9.1 assists per game.
OG Anunoby and/or Mikal Bridges likely will draw the primary defensive assignments against the dynamic 6-foot-6 point guard.
Cunningham — fittingly dubbed MotorCade in Motown — torched the Knicks for a triple-double in December and 36-point performances in January and April.
Let’s go vets
The Pistons’ advancement also was attributable to steady contributions from a handful of experienced imports, namely Long Island product Tobias Harris, former Knick Tim Hardaway Jr. and ex-Net Dennis Schroder to fortify a supporting cast also featuring Ausar Thompson, gunner Malik Beasley (41.6 percent on 3s), and bigs Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart.
Back in business
The Pistons have experienced a massive dry spell since making six straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals from 2003-08, highlighted by their third title run in franchise history in 2004.
In fact, Detroit hasn’t won a single playoff game since that run concluded, getting swept in the first round by the Cavaliers in 2009 and 2016, and by the Bucks in 2019 in their past three postseason trips.
Growing Ivey?
Cunningham’s backcourt mate Jaden Ivey also was enjoying his best season (17.6 ppg, 41 percent from 3) when he went down in January with a broken leg.
The third-year guard has resumed basketball activities and could be ready to return later in the series.
From the Palace to “Pizza! Pizza!”
The malice of the Palace at Auburn Hills from the “Bad Boys” glory days was replaced by the 2017 move to Little Caesars Arena downtown, but Detroit posted identical 22-19 splits at home and on the road this season under first-year coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
The Pistons already have taken steps to prevent an invasion by Knicks fans next week by restricting out-of-area ticket sales, although there’s not much they can do about the secondary market.
