Games like Tuesday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons can either be a welcome distraction from losing or a lifeline to a coach or “star” player in need of being scuttled. There was hope before the season started that the Pistons would take a turn toward relevancy. No team had a better draft, as they selected Jaden Ivey, who many Knicks fans, including me, coveted, and Jalen Duren, a big man which upside.
But Detroit has dealt with a slew of injuries, most notably to star guard Cade Cunningham, who sat out this game, and Ivey, making way for former Knicks Kevin Knox and Alec Burks to have revenge games.