The upcoming Detroit Piston contest will not be as easy as the first one. In that game, the Knicks subs torched the Detroit bench for 64 of the team’s 130 points while playing a combined 126 of 240 minutes. The Piston bench will be strengthened by the return of Isaiah Livers and Nerlens Noel. Two other players who missed the first Knick contest, Marvin Bagley III and Alec Burks are game time decisions
It was the second unit that allowed the Knicks to run away with the game. The Detroit starting 5 only averaged a +/- of -4. Starting two rookies who now have 12 games under their belts, the 3 & 9 Pistons will continue to improve as the season progresses.
Acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic looks like a desperation move on the part of Troy Weaver in his attempt to add outside shooting to the roster. Alec Burks, another sharp shooter, has been out. Lefty Killian Hayes was stroking it nicely last year, until he injured the thumb on his shooting hand. He has yet to regain his stroke.
As with the Knicks young core, the Detroit Pistons will go as far as their development takes them. At 24, Livers and Diallo are the senior members of this young group. Only Bogdanovic, at 33, is older among the top 9 players in mpg. The other 6 youngster average 20.8 years old. The Piston are young; we have yet to see how good they will be.
Troy Weaver is a decisive GM with a vision of how a winning team should play. The Pistons have a very recognizable ID, defense first. Dwayne Casey is a legit coach. The post all-star game Pistons figure be a much better team than they are today. Thankfully, the Knicks will have played them three of four before the break.