Knicks Suffer Defeat Against Pistons and Seek Answers
The New York Knicks arrived in Detroit expecting a showdown between the best teams in the East, but left looking for answers after a resounding defeat. The Pistons, leaders of the Eastern Conference, handed the Knicks their fourth consecutive loss, with a score of 121-90 in a match on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena. This game was a rematch of last spring’s exciting first-round series. Jalen Brunson was cryptic, while Karl-Anthony Towns reminded everyone that he must be the one to adapt the most with the new coaching staff.Brunson declined to elaborate on what he meant, but when asked if team members had any conversation among themselves before media access was allowed, he replied: “Yes, a little.” He continued saying: “We just have to respond. There’s a lot more to say. We’re keeping it internal. If we want to be the team we say we want to be, we have to be better, it’s that simple.” Brunson led the Knicks with 25 points, but had no assists and committed six turnovers, tying Towns, as the Knicks had 20 in total. Towns, who played only 23 minutes and had a -27 plus-minus, said: “As coach Mike Brown said, I am the big sacrifice.” “It’s okay to be in a slump, things happen over the course of a season,” Towns said. “But this is a bad, bad time. You can’t be this bad.”“There’s a lot to address,” said Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.
Jalen Brunson
The Knicks didn’t lose four games in a row last season, their longest losing streak stopped at three games. Their 23-13 record is one game off where they were last season (24-12), and with the loss, the Boston Celtics have surpassed them to take second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks’ team defense has faltered in the absence of Josh Hart, going from a mid-table team to allowing opponents to outperform them recently. The Philadelphia 76ers scored 130 against the Knicks on Saturday, and the San Antonio Spurs scored 134 on New Year’s Eve.Brown didn’t allow the Knicks’ schedule excuse (this was their third game in four nights) to justify the performance. Detroit played in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon and arrived without two starters, Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, along with substitute Caris LeVert.“It’s pretty simple,” said Knicks coach Mike Brown. “They just kicked our asses physically.”
Mike Brown
Brown emphasized that “this is not a time for panic”, but this comes immediately after Knicks owner James Dolan said on New York radio that he expects the Knicks to reach the NBA Finals. The Knicks looked anything but an NBA finalist in what could be a preview of the conference finals. The Pistons outrebounded the Knicks 44-30 and made more than 50% of field goals and 3-pointers. Cade Cunningham had one of his most complete games of the season with 29 points, 13 assists, three rebounds and two blocks, and was cheered with “MVP” chants by the home fans several times during the night.“Everything is on the table for us defensively right now,” Brown said. “We have to figure it out, we have to give it physically, but we as a staff have to keep finding ways to help that group.”
Mike Brown
“We have to come together,” said backup point guard Miles McBride. “I don’t know if it’s effort, more effort. I don’t know if it’s X’s and O’s. We have to be on the same page (defensively). The coaches can draw up whatever they want, but we as a team, we have to figure it out and lean on our leaders.”
Miles McBride
