Playoff History
New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons
Last year, The Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games to become the 2004 NBA Champions. The Knicks got swept by the New Jersey Nets 4 games to none in the first round of the Playoffs.
1985: New York Knicks defeat the Detroit Pistons 3 games to 1 in the first round of the Playoffs.
1990: Detroit Pistons defeat the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the conference semifinals.
Each team won 1 of their only 2 Playoff match-ups.
Playoff Experience
Mehmet Okur: Finals
Kevin Garnett: Conference Finals
Kyle Korver: none
Baron Davis: Conference Semifinals
Gilbert Arenas: none
Chris Mihm: none
Vladamir Radmanovic: First Round
Charlie Ward: Finals
Steve Smith: Finals
Samaki Walker: Finals
Casey Jacobsen: First Round
Lorenzen Wright: First Round
Rodney Rogers: Finals
Glenn Robinson: Conference Finals
Paul Pierce: Conference Finals
Mike Bibby: Conference Finals
Morris Peterson: First Round
Marcus Banks: First Round
Nick Collison: none
Jared Jeffries: none
Willie Green: none
Anthony Carter: Conference Semifinals
Dan Gadzuric: First Round
Knicks
Finals: 4
Conference Finals: 1
Conference Semifinals: 1
First Round: 2
None: 3
Pistons
Finals: 1
Conference Finals: 3
Conference Semifinals: 1
First Round: 4
None: 3
Both teams have a couple guys that have never been in the Playoffs. The edge in Playoff experience would definitely have to go to the Knicks, having four guys that have been to the Finals and two that actually won it. One big positive for the Pistons is that most of Pistons' key players have gotten to the Conference Finals and the inexperience will just come mostly from their bench. For two Knick starters, Gilbert Arenas and Kyle Korver, this is their first experience of the NBA Playoffs, so we'll just have to see if that inexperience affects them. Knicks' bench players of Charlie Ward, Steve Smith, and Samaki Walker, all of whom have reached the NBA Finals, could be big against the very inexperienced Pistons bench.
Season Series
Wednesday, December 15: Pistons defeat the Knicks 112-99 (1-0) @ Madison Square Garden
Saturday, January 29: Pistons defeat the Knicks 105-108 (2-0) @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
Tuesday, February 22: Pistons defeat the Knicks 114-120 (3-0) @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
Pistons swept the season series.
New York Knicks have the best record in the league (62-20) and have won eleven straight going into this series.
Detroit Pistons (55-27) had the 4th best overall record (third in the East). They were seeded 4 because Atlanta won the Southeast division.
They are 3-0 vs. the Knicks this season and just won a game 7 vs. a good Cleveland Cavaliers team, despite losing their best player.
Positives for the Knicks are that the Pistons have lost their best overall player for the series and Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas were not yet on the Knicks when they lost those games.
Key Matchup
Gilbert Arenas 19.3ppg 4.9apg 4.5rpg 1.8spg 36.9mpg
Mike Bibby 18.37ppg 5.41apg 3.38rpg 1.37spg 36.3mpg
Probable Starters
C- Kevin Garnett
PF- Vladamir Radmanovic
SF- Kyle Korver
SG- Gilbert Arenas
PG- Baron Davis
C- Lorenzen Wright
PF- Rodney Rogers
SF- Glenn Robinson
SG- Morris Peterson
PG- Mike Bibby