When the Detroit Pistons lost to the Knicks in six games in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the series was generally analyzed from a New York perspective. Instead of giving the young Pistons credit, many fans and media members criticized the Knicks for not taking care of business more quickly.
Two games into the Eastern Conference semifinals, that narrative has completely shifted, and Detroit's, more specifically Cade Cunningham's, postseason run looks much better in hindsight.
Despite not being given a chance against the Boston Celtics, the Knicks took a commanding 2-0 lead after epic back-to-back comebacks on the road. The Celtics have a miserable 100.0 offensive rating against the Knicks through two games, struggling to generate good shots against the New York defense. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are shooting a combined 31.7% from the field and have 16 turnovers to 17 assists.
Boston's struggles against the Knicks make what the Pistons did to them that much more impressive. In contrast, Detroit scored 109.6 points per 100 possessions against the Knicks despite shooting a poor 32.4% from three.
Cade Cunningham was able to carve up the New York defense despite his three-point shot not falling. In his first postseason series, Cunningham averaged 25 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game in six starts. Doing so while being surrounded by a much younger and more limited team is all the more reason for Pistons fans to be very hopeful for the future.
The Knicks are showing everyone that they are a very good basketball team. The Pistons came agonizingly close to defeating them in the first round. If a couple of balls bounced differently and a few missed calls went their way, Detroit could have easily defeated the Knicks. If any Pistons fans had doubts about this team or Cunningham, the first two games of the Celtics-Knicks series should have put those doubts to bed.