NEW YORK — The New York Knicks on April 23 were down 2-1 in their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, staring down an embarrassing exit in Mike Brown’s first season. To the public, Brown preached patience. “I told (our players) it’s a seven-game series for a reason,” said Brown. Among the team, Brown changed the offense drastically. They put the ball in Karl-Anthony Towns’ hands, allowing him to make plays for teammates moving off the ball. Since then, the team has gone on a seven-game winning streak. So while the Pistons and Cavaliers series is heading for a Game 7 on Monday, the Knicks are going to enter the 2026 ECF with over a week of rest. The bigger question now is simple: the Knicks should want to face who? Between the Cavaliers or Pistons, the answer honestly feels clearer after each passing game.
The Team The Knicks Should Want To Face Between The Cavaliers And Pistons Is Becoming Obvious
If Brown were asked that question in a pre-game interview, you’d probably get some version of coach-speak about focusing on themselves and respecting every opponent. Coaches treat hypothetical matchups like they’re state secrets. But behind closed doors? There’s almost no chance the Knicks aren’t hoping Cleveland survives this series. Not because the Cavaliers are a bad team. Far from it. But styles make fights and the Cavaliers currently look like a team trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube underwater. Meanwhile Detroit look like a group that enjoys fistfights recreationally. There’s a difference.
Star Power Usually Wins Series… Unless Your Star Starts Dribbling Into Three Defenders
Before the season started back in October, if you asked a random NBA fan who the better player was between Donovan Mitchell and Cade Cunningham, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone outside of Detroit picking Cunningham. Fast forward to now and the conversation has flipped entirely. Cunningham has outplayed Mitchell throughout this series despite not having the luxury of another offensive star beside him (side eyes Jalen Duren). Cunningham is averaging a league-leading 29.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.6 stocks per game while controlling the pace of nearly every contest. Mitchell on the other hand is averaging 25.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists, numbers that somehow look both impressive and concerning at the same time. Basketball is funny like that.
Right off the bat, Mitchell’s scoring has dipped below his regular-season average of 27.9 points per game. That’s not exactly normal for a player whose playoff reputation was built on turning into a human blowtorch every April and May. More troubling, though, has been the decision-making. Mitchell averaged 5.7 assists in the regular season, yet this postseason he’s looked far less composed trying to create in traffic. Too many possessions spiral into him barreling into a crowd before forcing up a shot that leaves Cavaliers fans sucking air through clenched teeth like someone just scratched a rental car. That imbalance is exactly why the Knicks should welcome a matchup with Cleveland.
Meanwhile, Cunningham is playing with terrifying composure for someone this early in his playoff career. That’s the part that should concern New York. Despite averaging 5.8 turnovers per game, he’s still dictating the rhythm of these contests, controlling the tempo like a veteran conductor with coffee in his veins. The Pistons are growing up in real time.
