Spring is in the air and New York City is buzzing with activity. Everyone is getting outside, that summer stench is starting to set in, or is that just that just the Rangers? The Blueshirts may be done, but their roommates, are just getting started! Thats right, it’s time for playoff basketball at World Most Famous Arena once again. The Knicks quest for their first title since 1973 begins Saturday night at 6 PM under the pin wheel ceiling against the long dormant Detroit Pistons. It’s been 23 years since these two teams last met in the playoffs, an opening round series the Knicks won in five games, effectively ending the Pistons “bad boys’ era.”

That was a different (better) NBA, that doesn’t have a lot in common with the current version of the league. The one common thread is that New York is absolutely juiced up for the playoffs and the Garden atmosphere is still raucous as ever. This excitement comes in spite of the fact that the Knicks didn’t exactly finish the regular season on a high, nor are they the same team they were a year ago. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are a worse team; it feels like some the consternation about their chances to advance is born out of the change in identity on Broadway. It is worth remembering they won 51 games in the regular season folks…

The Knicks aren’t the same defensive team from a year ago, but that tradeoff has been made in the name of being a much more explosive offensive squad. They’ll meet their match in the Pistons, who can score with the best of them, as they’re led by burgeoning star Cade Cunningham and a talented young cast of characters. Let’s talk about what the Knicks need to do to win this series.

OG the X-Factor: The most important player in this series is OG Anunoby, and I don’t really think that is up for debate. Sure, Jalen Brunson is the leader of the team and Karl Anthony Towns needs to have a strong postseason to keep making a good first impression in the Big Apple, but Anunoby’s skill set is vital against a team like Detroit. No other Knicks player on the roster can play as well as both ends of the floor as OG. Number eight is team’s best defender, and he will likely be asked to handle the toughest matchups against Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Malik Beasley. The burden wouldn’t have been as heavy last year with Knicks being an all-around better defensive club in 2024, but that was then, and this is now. If OG plays the way he has all year, then this series has the potential to be quick.

Use The Bench Thibs: If OG is the most important starter, let’s shift our focus to the bench, which must be employed to win this series, and hopefully more after! The Knicks don’t aren’t blessed with a deep bench, but Tom Thibodeau needs to find some combinations in a rotation to keep everyone involved, while also giving his big guns a break. Deuce McBride and Mitchell Robisnon are more than just bench players, but both will be needed to make impacts at both ends of the floor. True rotational players Precious Achiuwa, Landry Shamet, and Cam Payne have played well all year, which will need to continue, while newcomer Delon Wright has shown he can chip in too. Last year the Knicks burned themselves out playing iron man basketball, which won’t fly this postseason.

Start the Garden Party: If you haven’t already heard, the Pistons are very concerned with protecting Little Caesars Arena from an invading army of Knicks fans. So, in turn it only feels right that this team and its fans make the big gym on 7th Avenue a hostile pit to play in. In the last two playoffs, the Garden Faithful have rattled opponents and made thunderous noise the whole city can hear. There can be no slip ups on home court in this first round matchup, get ahead of the inexperienced Pistons and keep the foot on the gas. The mob will follow roaring behind you guys!

The Prediction – Knicks in 5 – The Pistons have been a great story, but I don’t think they have the experience or poise to beat this Knicks team in round one. Throw in the fact that the Knicks have been hearing an awful lot of negative press about themselves, and I think you will see a very determined team in orange and blue. So, call the Spidey and the Sidetalk gang, Knicks in five! Oh, and Pistons…loser keeps Isiah…

On twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon!