Knicks' Struggles Against Top Seeds: A Cause for Concern?
The New York Knicks find themselves in familiar territory after a tough loss to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. Swept by the Eastern Conference’s top seed for the second straight season, the Knicks are facing skepticism as they head into the playoffs-a narrative their fans know all too well.
Last season, the Knicks went 0-4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now they’re 0-3 against the Pistons, with no more regular-season matchups on the horizon unless they meet in the playoffs.
Sure, some might argue that the regular season isn’t the playoffs. Despite being swept by the Cavs and Celtics last year, the Knicks still reached the Eastern Conference Finals. But dismissing their losses to the Pistons might be overly optimistic.
No More Excuses for the Knicks
The Knicks can’t simply brush off these struggles. Unlike last year’s close losses to Cleveland, each defeat against Detroit this season has been by double digits.
Yes, context matters. The Knicks were without OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns during their February 6th loss, a game where Cade Cunningham had one of his worst performances.
But every team deals with absences. The Pistons, missing Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart due to suspensions, still managed to dominate.
Considering how hard the Knicks had to fight to edge out a first-round win over Detroit in the 2025 playoffs, it’s tough to dismiss these regular-season results as insignificant.
Bracing for the Narrative Storm
Even if fans can rationalize the Knicks’ struggles against the Pistons, they can’t escape the looming narrative. Skepticism surrounded New York before last year’s playoffs, fueled by an 0-8 combined record against the Cavs and Celtics. This year, the chatter is already building, and it might get even louder.
Since Jalen Brunson’s arrival, the Knicks have only one regular-season win against the East’s top seeds. They went 0-3 against the Bucks in 2022-23, 1-4 against the Celtics in 2023-24, 0-4 against the Cavs in 2024-25, and now 0-3 against the Pistons this season. That’s a tough 1-14 record, raising eyebrows across the league.
To their credit, the Knicks have performed well against the league’s top-10 teams this year, but their record against No. 1 seeds can’t be ignored.
The Knicks have exhausted their financial flexibility and trade assets and have even changed head coaches. Yet, their ability to compete against top-tier teams remains in question. This ongoing search for solutions is unsettling and could be seen as a significant failure if not addressed.