I don’t think my words can do this moment justice. Pistons playoff basketball is back, and unlike the last couple of times this happened in Detroit over the last 17 years, this game actually means something and actually has a chance in resulting in a win (sorry to the 2018-2019 and 2014-2015 teams).

After ending their 17 year winless playoff drought, the Pistons now control the series as it heads back to Detroit. Outside of a disastrous 4th quarter in Game 1, the Pistons have pretty much controlled this series. People thought this would be a competitive series, but the Pistons being the better team through two games is not something I would have had on my Bingo card.

Now, they have a chance to take a 2-1 series lead in front of what will probably be the craziest crowd in the history of Little Caesars Arena. Pistons basketball is back, now let’s give the fans something to cheer for.

Game Vitals

Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI

When: Thursday, April 24 at 7 pm EST

Watch: TNT

Odds: Knicks (-1.5)

Analysis

The last time the Pistons played a playoff game at home, Blake Griffin came back with a bionic knee to try to will the team to a playoff win over the 1-seeded Bucks, but the Pistons ended up falling in four games. The two home games in that series were the only two playoff games so far in the history of Little Caesars Arena. Unlike that series against the Bucks, the Pistons are actually in a position to not only win this game, but win the series.

They have forced their will and physicality on the defensive end and have made the Knicks uncomfortable, outside of that disastrous 4th quarter in game 1. As heartbreaking as that was, just like the Pistons have been doing all year, they have bounced back and learned from it.

The Pistons have now figured out something that works and it is time to keep it going in front of the loyal fans of Detroit who have stuck it out through some of the darkest times.

I will be at the game tonight, and I hope to see a lot of you there. Be loud, be proud, and let’s beat the New York Knicks!

The story of this game is the same as the last few. Slow down the rest of the Knicks players and force Jalen Brunson to try to beat you by himself. Putting all of the foul-baiting antics aside, Jalen Brunson has been able to score a lot in this series, but it has come on a lot of tough shots and ball domination on his part. In Game 1, it worked out, but in Game 2 he missed a couple of shots in the clutch that he normally makes; probably due to all of the bumping a bruising he took on during the game.

In Game 2, Karl Anthony-Towns only took three shots in the second half and missed all three. Tobias Harris did a great job on him throughout the game, and if Isaiah Stewart is able to return from his knee injury suffered in Game 1, the Pistons will have 48 minutes of resistance for Karl Anthony-Towns available at their disposal. If Stewart can’t go, Paul Reed will have to step-up like he did in Game 2.

If there is one thing going for the Pistons, it is that they cannot possibly shoot the ball as bad as they did in Game 2. Malik Beasley was 1-of-8 from beyond the arc and Tim Hardaway Jr. was 0-of-6. The team overall was 6-of-27. Being back home on the baskets they are used to should hopefully get them back on track.

If the Pistons shooters do not get back on track, it might be tough to pull out a win in Game 3, even if their defense is as good as it was.

The Pistons were also able to solve the OG Anunoby puzzle for Cade Cunningham a bit in Game 2. He struggled with him in Game 1, but they were able to run more actions to force switches to allow Cade to feast on Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson. If they can keep that going and the Knicks do not make adjustments, I would expect another monster game out of Cunningham.

The Pistons have a golden opportunity to take a 2-1 lead in the series and take control. This is a young team that has already been punched in the mouth once. Let’s see if they have it in them to absorb that punch and keep the momentum they created in Game 2 into Game 3.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (1-1): Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway Jr, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

New York Knicks (1-1): Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OJ Anunoby, Karl Anthony-Towns

Question of the Day

Are you going to the game tonight? If not, where will you be watching?