It’s the last two weeks of the NBA season, which means it is time to talk playoff matchups. The New York Knicks are 48-27, making them third in the Eastern Conference. The Indiana Pacers, who knocked the Knicks out of the playoffs last season, are 4 games behind New York. I can comfortably say that the Knicks will finish the season in third place in the East.
The Knicks have a zero percent chance of catching the Boston Celtics, who are eight games ahead of them.
New York will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Detroit Pistons. The Bucks lead the Pistons by two games. As of today, Milwaukee holds the tiebreaker over Detroit, 2-0. However, the two teams still have two more games to play against each other this season.
New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson reacts after winning Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
If the season ended today, the Knicks would face the Bucks (41-34). I would love this matchup if I were New York. The Knicks swept the season series 3-0 and have a win differential of +65. Two out of the three games were complete blowouts, featuring Knicks wins by 22 and 34 points. In the early January game, Jalen Brunson dominated with 44 points and six assists.
Milwaukee will most likely be missing star guard Damian Lillard for the first round with deep vein thrombosis (blood clots), the same injury that took down Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama back in February. The Bucks are going to rely heavily on two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, to lead the way without his teammate Lillard. Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. are key names to look for to step up for Milwaukee.
On the Knicks’ side of things, Brunson needs to continue his dominance over the Bucks, averaging 37 points per game vs Milwaukee in five games last season and 30 points per game this season in two games vs Milwaukee.
However, the ankle injury that Brunson suffered in Los Angeles on March 6 may alter how the Knicks play against the Bucks. Brunson was cleared to resume basketball activities earlier this week. The Knicks are hopeful he returns before the playoffs begin.
My prediction? The Knicks win the series 4-1.
The Detroit Pistons (42-33) are the matchup I would be less confident with if I were the Knicks in round one. If you had told me this time last year that I would be worried about facing the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs, I would have called you crazy. Detroit has tripled their win total from last year, 14, to now 42—the first team in NBA history to complete such a feat. The Pistons lead the season series over New York, 2-1, with one game to play on April 10.
The Pistons are headlined by Most Improved Player of the Year candidate, Cade Cunningham. Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points and 9.2 assists a night, putting him third in the league. Cade dominated at Madison Square Garden this season, posting a 29-point triple-double and dropping 36 on the Knicks. New York will need to figure out a way to stop Cunningham from getting hot in the playoffs. Tom Thibodeau should put elite defender OG Anunoby all over Cunningham. When the former Raptor checks out, Mikal Bridges should take the assignment and guard Detroit’s top scorer.
Another bright spot for the Pistons this season has been Malik Beasley. Beasley has shot the lights out this season, leading the league in three-pointers made. He is also in the top 10 in three-point percentage with 42.3%. Beasley shot even better against the Knicks this season, hitting seven out of ten three-pointers in their January matchup and six out of eight in February.
If the Knicks want to pump the brakes for Detroit, they must guard the perimeter. They are 27th in the league in opponents’ three-point percentage per game with 37.3%. The major weakness this season for New York is leaving players wide open behind the three-point line. For the Knicks to defeat Detroit, they must figure out their defensive struggles.
The difference between Detroit and Milwaukee is experience. Detroit’s roster is filled with young talent who have little to no experience in the postseason. Milwaukee has tons of experience. They won the championship back in 2021, so they know a thing or two about the difference between the regular season and playoffs.
My prediction? The Knicks win this series 4-2.
Let’s go Knicks!