Tom Thibodeau's shameless lobbying doesn't change the facts of Pistons vs. Knicks

The Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks first-round playoff series is shaping up to be a classic after a competitive split of the first two games. 

For the most part, the two teams have treated fans to a throwback playoff series, with tough defense, big shots and nail-biting finishes. 

The games haven’t been without controversy, as Knicks fans weren’t happy with the free-throw discrepancy in game two and Pistons fans are sick of watching Jalen Brunson’s egregious foul-baiting. 

I’ve had no problems with the way the games have been called, as the refs have let both teams play and have resisted the temptation to bail out offensive players who are clearly seeking contact instead of trying to make a shot. 

Tom Thibodeau disagrees, as he was lobbying the refs after the game as if Cade Cunningham was the only one who got a whistle: 

Coach Thibodeau is just sticking up for his guy, so I can’t get too mad at him, but his narrative conveniently ignores some pesky facts. 

The Knicks are getting plenty of call against the Pistons 

For all the talk about the free-throw disparity, no one seems to mention that the Pistons were whistled for 24 fouls and the Knicks 22, so the Knicks actually got more calls than the Pistons. 

Jalen Brunson, who averaged 6.9 free throws per game in the regular season, shot 11 free throws last night to Cade’s 12, so again, there was no big disparity between the star guards, and both got their share of calls and no-calls. 

The difference is that Cade was attacking the basket most of the night and wasn’t shamelessly flopping to seek calls. Refs aren’t always going to reward players who clearly aren’t even attempting a shot but are just trying to draw a foul. Brunson got plenty of those anyway, as he fouled out Ausar Thompson and a couple of the calls were shaky at best. 

The Knicks also launched 35 3-point attempts, so part of the reason for the free-throw difference is that the Pistons got most of their foul calls in the paint and in the act of shooting. 

Several of the Pistons’ fouls were in the backcourt and not even on shot attempts. Detroit was more aggressive taking the ball to the rack and got more free throws because of it. 

Thibodeau can complain all he wants but his team got more foul calls than the Pistons and his star got to the line 11 times, those are the facts. 

We’ll see if his lobbying has any effect in game three in Detroit.