The Knicks served as a spark for the Pistons’ gorgeous rise this season.
One 12 months after ending with an NBA-worst 14 wins, the Pistons went 44-38 to mark one of many largest turnarounds in league historical past.
What gave them the arrogance they might be a professional playoff contender?
“There were two games in my mind that stand out as kind of mood-changing, belief-changing,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned Thursday on SiriusXM NBA radio with Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine. “One of them happened to be in Madison Square Garden, where we played the Knicks and we were able to come out with a win there. It just felt like our guys started to believe that they could compete with and beat some of the better teams in this league.”
The sport Bickerstaff was referencing was the Pistons’ 120-111 win over the Knicks on Dec. 7.
Knicks’ loss to the Pistons on Dec. 7, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Put up
Cade Cunningham recorded 29 factors, 15 assists and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who completed 3-1 towards the Knicks within the common season.
Pistons on Dec. 7, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Put up
Earlier than that recreation, the Pistons had been 9-15. However from that recreation on, they went 35-23.
“We were like, ‘If we can keep this up, keep building, keep getting better, we’ve got a chance,’ ” Bickerstaff mentioned.
Final 12 months whereas with the Nets, Mikal Bridges missed out on the playoffs for the primary time in three years.
He’s been itching to get again.
“I’m really excited to go,” Bridges mentioned. “A year off feels so long from not making the playoffs. I’m excited for the atmosphere as well. It’s gonna be a really good series.”
He’s additionally the one participant within the Knicks rotation who has made it to the Finals, which he did whereas with the Suns in 2020-21.
P.J. Tucker gained a championship with the Bucks (beating Bridges’ Suns), however is just not anticipated to play a lot, if in any respect, within the postseason.
Bridges has been sharing recommendation together with his teammates.
“It all starts with just one game at a time,” Bridges mentioned. “You can’t look ahead. I think the fans, you guys look ahead a lot. It takes one game at a time. That’s what it is, just one game and play our best basketball, our best version for 48 minutes and go from there.”
