Reggie Miller Warns Knicks Ahead of Pistons Playoff Matchup

NEW YORK, New York — NBA legend Reggie Miller issued a cautious prediction for the upcoming first-round playoff series between the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons during a TNT conference call on Friday. While Miller believes the Knicks will win, he emphasized the importance of respecting their opponents.

“This is going to be a fun series to watch. I just hope the Knicks respect them and don’t overlook them,” Miller said. “If they do, then we could be looking at an upset. Experience, to me, matters. And I know everyone is saying it, but I don’t think this is going to be an easy series for New York.”

Miller, known for his clutch performances against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, also praised Jalen Brunson, calling him “probably the best clutch player in our game.” He anticipated that Brunson would be named the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year, an award that went to Stephen Curry last season.

Fellow TNT analyst Stan Van Gundy shared Miller’s concerns, pointing out the tough first-round battle the Knicks face against the rising star Cade Cunningham and the spirited Pistons team. “Look, Detroit is good… This team has surprised everybody and has been very, very good,” Van Gundy said.

Despite acknowledging Detroit’s strengths, Van Gundy ultimately favors the Knicks, noting their wealth of experience and star power. “New York has not defended the way you would expect a New York team for most of the year. But they’ve been a little better lately, they’re getting healthy, and OG Anunoby is playing the best basketball of his career,” he said.

While both analysts highlighted New York’s advantages, they also recognized potential pitfalls. Van Gundy expressed “the realistic expectation” that the Knicks should win the first round and be competitive against the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round.

“That New York-Boston series would be crazy… I just don’t put a lot of stock in [head-to-head records]. With that said, I think Boston’s the better team right now,” Van Gundy added, praising Boston’s strong finish to the season.

As for Miller, he expressed ambivalence about the Knicks’ playoff potential following two consecutive second-round exits. “If they are fortunate enough to get by Detroit, you know who’s waiting for them in the second round. Anything is possible in the playoffs,” he said.

In the context of the series predictions, multiple analysts offered varying expectations. Stefan Bondy and Peter Botte both predicted a Knicks victory in six games, citing New York’s depth and experience. Zach Braziller and Brian Lewis, however, forecast a tighter series with the Knicks edging the Pistons in Game 7.

Both Jared Schwartz and Mike Vaccaro noted that while the Knicks may struggle due to previous matchups this season, their offensive firepower and health should help them prevail against the young Pistons.

As excitement builds for the upcoming playoff series, the stakes are high for both teams as they face off in a contest that promises to test the limits of experience, skill, and strategy on the court.