Knicks-Pistons Series Preview (Part 2) And Prediction

Brunson and KAT will be the focal points of NY's offense, but the Knicks need to ensure they are also feeding Bridges and OG.

On Wednesday, I examined the point guard, shooting guard and small forward matchups in the Knicks-Pistons series.

Today, I preview the power forward/center positions and each team's bench. I'll wrap it up by predicting the outcome.

🏀 Forward:
OG Anunoby vs. Tobias Harris

The primary reason the Knicks inked OG to a monstrous five-year, $212.5 million pact (the largest contract the Knicks have ever handed out in the franchise's history) is because of his ability to take over and wreck games on the defensive end.

He likely won't take home the DPOY award, but OG should be named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team this season. Tasked with guarding the other team's best wing scorer on a nightly basis, Anunoby finished the season inside the top 10 in steals and deflections and posted the best individual Defensive Rating among all Knicks starters (112.3). He and Jaren Jackson Jr. were the only two players in the NBA with 200+ deflections, 50+ loose balls received and 500+ shot contests.

Yet, although his traditional counting stats are impressive (he had 11 games with multiple steals and blocks, which was tied for third in the NBA, and is one of just three players to tally 65+ blocks and 110+ steals), his overall impact is not captured in a box score. "There's no stats for the offensive player calling a screen to avoid you. There's no stat for picking up a dribble to pass," OG explained earlier this month when asked why he should be considered an All-NBA defender. "Or shot attempts — like holding the other player to no shot attempts, there's no stat for that. So [voters] can't really tell. They just always give it to the big men."

However, while known for his defense, OG was far from one-dimensional in 2024-25. His staggering improvement on the offensive end was one of the true bright spots for New York in the second half of the season.

When Jalen Brunson went down with a sprained ankle in early March, OG shouldered far more responsibility and proved he could be a dynamic offensive force. Over a ten-game stretch spanning late March and early April, Anunoby averaged a whopping 27.6 points and 3.3 made three-pointers, while shooting a scorching 56.3% from the floor, 45.8% from downtown and 91.8% from the free-throw line.

To put those numbers in context, consider this: According to Basketball Reference, OG is just the second player in NBA history to average more than 25 points, three made three-pointers and 1.5 steals while shooting above 55% from the floor, 45% from 3PT rage and 90% from the FT line over a ten-game span. The other player in this unique club is Steph Curry.

Yes, Brunson and KAT will be the focal points of NY's offense, but the Knicks need to ensure they are also feeding Bridges and OG. A balanced attack makes New York that much more difficult to defend.

In NY's 31 losses this season, OG and Bridges averaged a combined 31.4 points per game (OG 15.9 PPG / Bridges 15.5 PPG).

In NY's 51 wins this season, OG and Bridges averaged a combined 38.3 points per game (OG 19.4 PPG / Bridges 18.9 PPG).

The Pistons' signing of Tobias Harris last summer raised some eyebrows. Why would Harris, an established and valued veteran on the Back 9 of his career, sign with a perennial loser like Detroit? Why would a rebuilding team like the Pistons give $50 million to Harris, a player who seemingly didn't fit their timeline? (Remember, Detroit wasn't bad last season; they were historically awful. The 2023–24 Pistons shattered the NBA's all-time record for the longest losing streak in a single season, dropping 28 straight contests.)