On Saturday, the 76ers exposed a brutal Knicks weakness that the Pistons can exploit to their advantage. In the third quarter of their game, Philadelphia ran 7 straight pick-and-rolls that resulted in field goals every single time. The Pistons’ own deadly pick-and-roll, led by All-NBA candidate Cade Cunningham, will look for the same success tonight in a colossal showdown against New York.
The Pistons are ready to attack the Knicks
For most of the season, the Pistons and Knicks have established themselves as the East’s top two teams. Tonight, they finally face off in the garage match going back to last year's postseason. The Pistons nearly had a storybook 2025, but their biggest regret was a first round playoff loss against the Knicks.
Following the Sixers’ blueprint will give them a reliable method for generating efficient offense. The Pistons have one of the best pick and roll attacks in the entire league built around Cunningham and Jalen Duren. By studying the fine tweaks that allowed Philadelphia to have so much success, the Pistons can lean even further into their bread-and-butter attack.
However, Duren is currently out with injury and will be replaced in the starting center spot by Isaiah Stewart. Stewart is a defensive menace, but doesn’t quite have the same offensive chops as Duren. Still, he should get many opportunities to attack the Knicks defense.
Some interesting notes from the Sixers offense was how often the pick and roll resulted in shots for other players. Whether it was a shooter flaring out to the corner or another big diving in from the dunker spot, the Sixers got good shots for their whole lineup.
The Pistons still have room to grow in terms of running multiple actions and getting all players involved. Duncan Robinson’s shooting and Ausar Thompson’s athleticism are skills that can attack the gaps opened up by a strong pick and roll.
It’s true the Pistons don’t have a roll man quite as devastating and talented as the Sixers’ Joel Embiid. However, with some creativity and the playmaking brilliance of Cade Cunningham, they can still achieve the same results against the Knicks.
The Pistons have had this matchup against the Knicks circled on their calendar since the NBA schedule was released. Their hard-fought series last year was one of the closest affairs of the entire postseason. It was an intense and physical battle that left fans wanting more.
Now that the opportunity to avenge their loss is finally here, the Pistons need to take full advantage. Even if they’re not at 100% healthwise they still have plenty of options for putting pressure on New York’s defense. The Sixers have already given them a reliable plan for forgetting good looks; now they just need to act on it.