The Detroit Pistons' head coach, JB Bickerstaff, is not letting last year's early playoff exit overshadow the strides his team has made against the Knicks over the past couple of regular seasons.
Bickerstaff emphasizes the value of regular-season play, saying, "The regular season matters. How you present yourself every single night matters." He believes that the 82-game grind is essential for preparation and building confidence against opponents, especially when playoff experiences come into play.
Heading into Thursday's matchup at Madison Square Garden, Detroit held a commanding 2-0 lead in the season series, securing the tiebreaker against New York. Last season, the Pistons went 3-1 against the Knicks before being eliminated in a tightly contested six-game playoff series, which turned on a controversial no-call involving Tim Hardaway Jr.
Reflecting on that series, Bickerstaff notes, "That series - still in my mind - could have gone either way depending on some circumstances we won’t get into tonight. But it was a great learning lesson for our guys."
For Bickerstaff, playoff setbacks aren't failures but essential experiences. They teach young teams the importance of details and discipline over raw talent.
"The playoffs are a new beast," he explains. "Experience matters.
Having failed in the playoffs matters. Successful teams don’t achieve overnight success, especially those built organically through the draft and strategic additions."
The Pistons' decisive wins over the Knicks earlier this season, by 31 and 37 points, resonate more than their overall record. Knicks head coach Mike Brown acknowledges the significance of these losses, stating, "We want to win every game, and they’re the team that’s in front of us. If we beat Detroit tonight and lose the next night, that’s a wash."
Brown emphasizes the importance of the upcoming game, not just as a chance for redemption, but as preparation for potential future playoff encounters. "This game is extremely important because it’s our next game, and add into that they’ve had our number," he adds. "It’s just as important as the rest of the games, especially going down the stretch."
As both teams gear up for the final stretch of the season, these matchups offer more than just wins and losses-they're crucial tests that shape playoff readiness and resilience.