The Pistons badly exposed a Knicks weakness during the regular season — and it’s not even particularly one of their own strengths.
In four regular-season games against the Pistons — in which the Knicks went 1-3, including losing the final three matchups — Detroit torched them from 3-point range.
The Pistons shot 32.4, 50.0, 44.1 and 36.4 percent from behind the arc in those four games, respectively. Combined, the Pistons went 52-for-126 from 3 — good for a stellar 41.3 percent.
For context, the Bucks led the NBA in 3-point percentage in the regular season with a 38.7 percent mark.
“[Tim] Hardaway [Jr.] is a 3-point shooter. [Malik] Beasley had a monster year from 3. [Cade] Cunningham can shoot it,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after practice on Wednesday. “You look at it, you study it, and you have to prepare for what you’re facing next.”
The scary part for the Knicks is that the Pistons are not even really known for their 3-point prowess.
As a team, they shot 36.2 percent from 3 during the regular season — 17th in the NBA. They took 35.4 3s per game — 22nd in the league.
But the Knicks struggled to guard the 3 throughout the year, a big part of the reason they regressed so dramatically on defense from last year. It came with a strange dichotomy, however.
Opponents shot 36.7 percent from deep against the Knicks in the regular season, the fifth-highest mark in the league and one spot worse than the Pistons at 36.6 percent. But Knicks opponents took only 35.7 3s and made 13.1 of them per game, fifth and 10th least in the NBA.
So, the Knicks don’t give up a lot of 3-point attempts, but when they do, opponents hit them at a high rate.
“Improving communication,” OG Anunoby said Wednesday of how to fix that issue. “Closing out better, try to limit more 3s.”
The Knicks will have their hands full trying to contain Cunningham, who dominated them in the four regular-season matchups.
And all that attention on him likely will create chances for Pistons secondary scorers to get open shots and potentially hurt the Knicks.
It likely will have the biggest impact on Beasley.
He averaged 16.3 points per game and shot a career-best 41.6 percent from 3-point range. His 319 total made 3s were second most in the league. That included an elite 48.8 percent mark against the Knicks.
Beasley thrives as a catch-and-shooter from the perimeter, an ideal fit to feast off double-teams on Cunningham.
And Cunningham assisted 102 of Beasley’s 461 total made field goals in the regular season, per NBA.com’s tracking stats.
“He’s always been able to shoot,” Karl-Anthony Towns, Beasley’s former teammate with the Timberwolves, said on Tuesday. “I’ve seen it firsthand. When he was with us in Minnesota I believe he broke the 3-point scoring record and Anthony [Edwards] just broke it now. I’ve always known he’s a tremendous shooter, one of the best shooters this league has to offer.
“And the way he shoots, the different types of 3s he shoots, just proves his talent level. He’s a tough guard obviously. We have someone I know well, have to definitely find a way to limit his 3s.”
Other than Beasley, Hardaway and Tobias Harris are capable of hurting the Knicks from deep. They shot 36.8 percent and 34.5 percent from 3, respectively.
“We’re gonna try to key in on everyone,” Anunoby said. “They’re a team full of great players. Malik can really shoot. Tim can really shoot. Tobias is a great player. [Jalen] Duren is a great player. They have a great team.”
Harris in particular brings loads of playoff experience, having played 61 postseason games.
“He’s always been a really good player,” Josh Hart said. “He can shoot the ball, he can put it on the floor and he can play in the post. So, he’s a tough matchup and he makes quick decisions. When he’s open he shoots, when he’s guarded he makes a play. We know how good he is. We have to be ready for that.”
