Detroit Pistons: 3 biggest challenges vs. Knicks and how to overcome them

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks in action against the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks in action against the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) leaps for a rebound in the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Pistons: 3 biggest challenges against the Knicks and how to overcome them

Challenge #2: Dealing with the Knicks’ size advantage

The Detroit Pistons actually won the rebounding battle in the preseason matchup between these two teams, but the Knicks scored a whopping 62 points in the paint, though many of them did come on fast breaks off turnovers.

The Knicks also had eight blocks against the smaller Pistons, so Detroit is going to have to find ways to negate their size disadvantage and make it work for them.

How to overcome it

In order to try and reduce the Knicks’ points in the paint, we may see more of Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart together on the floor tonight, as Duren is the team’s best shot blocker and can at least make things more difficult for the Knicks. Staying out of foul trouble will be key for Duren.

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The Detroit Pistons also need to do what they did against Orlando, which is push in transition every chance they get and try to speed the game up, as the Pistons’ half court offense will likely struggle against the set defense of the Knicks.

Detroit also needs to make the Knicks play their game by forcing their bigs to defend on the perimeter and in space where the quicker Pistons will have an advantage. Beef Stew, Saddiq Bey and Bojan Bogdanovic need to pull Robinson and Randle away from the hoop in the half court and try to beat them back in transition to get some easy buckets before the Knicks get set.

Detroit needs to run as much as possible and make the Knicks come out on the perimeter. This will be a game where making long-range shots will be crucial, otherwise New York will just pack the lane and dare the Pistons to shoot over them.

Both Robinson and Randle got into foul trouble in their first game against Memphis, so Detroit needs to pull them away from their comfort zones on defense and hopefully draw some cheap fouls early in the game.