Danger Zone

KAT getting zero looks in the fourth quarter is inexplicable and inexcusable.

Final Score: Knicks 94 - Pistons 100
Series: 1-1

The Knicks got away with playing poorly over the first three quarters of Game 1, escaping with a win after scoring 21 straight points in the final frame. After being outplayed for the first 40 minutes again in Game 2, New York had another opportunity to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, as thier 16-4 run in the fourth quarter tied the score at 94 with 90 seconds remaining in regulation.

However, the home team's spirited sprint fell short, as Dennis Schroder knocked down a back-breaking three-pointer and Mikal Bridges bricked a triple-try of his own that could have sent the game into overtime.

Before discussing the flaws in execution and frustrations from Game 2 in particular, let's zoom out for a moment and recognize that the Knicks are in trouble. After winning the final three meetings between these two clubs in the regular season, Detroit has outplayed New York in six of the eight quarters in this series. In that respect, the Knicks are lucky to have split the first two games at MSG.

Not only have the ‘Bockers lost home-court advantage, but it's not as though the young Pistons have performed well above their potential and are primed to come crashing back down to earth. In fact, maybe most alarmingly, Detroit has not played anything close to its "A-Game."

Last night, for instance, Detroit shot 6-of-27 from downtown (22%) and turned the ball over 15 times. That is NOT a recipe for success. Dating back to 2018, the Pistons had lost 21 straight games in which they committed more than 14 turnovers and hit fewer than seven three-pointers.

So, how have the Knicks dug themselves this hole heading to MoTown for Game 3?

Let's begin with this number: Zero.

That's the number of shot attempts Karl-Anthony Towns had in the fourth quarter of last night's loss despite playing all 12 minutes of the final frame.

After Towns was extremely efficient and effective on the low block in Game 1 (23 points on 14 FG attempts), we discussed how it was essential that NY keep feeding KAT in the post if the Pistons continued to stick their center on Josh Hart, leaving Tobias Harris on an island with Towns. It should have been even easier to exploit Monday night, as the Pistons were missing their best backup big, Isaiah Stewart, who was sidelined by a knee issue.

In the second half of Game 2, Towns scored the same number of points as you, me and Spike Lee — zero on just three FG attempts.

That is inexplicable and inexcusable.