Hart

Can't be said enough...we need a point guard. Maybe Cade will prove me wrong but until he does, I am going to die on the hill that this team needs a legit point guard. It will mean less assists for Cade. But hopefully, more quality looks and scoring for him also.

Losing Stewart was devastating. Duren hopefully uses this as a learning experience. He just wasn't ready for the playoff intensity.

Both teams have been physical but the Knicks have been more physical in the fourth quarter and the refs just aren't going to call many fouls in the playoffs. Hopefully, that is a lesson learned.

This team needs a point guard. It's too much to ask of Cade. For all that he is, he should not be our starting point guard.

Thompson needed to be in the game sooner. You might as well sit Duren and just go extremely small now.

The defense has just fallen apart. Onto game 2.

And there it is.

This is my fear with Cade. Having 2 or 3 possessions in a row with turnovers late in a game. Can't have anymore turnovers now.

The Pistons have found ways to fight back in these situations all year. They are getting the shots. Just need to make them. Still plenty of time.

Schroder may have to take a few open threes. The Knicks are not guarding him from three.

I didn't see this play or know who he fouled but you are just asking for this to happen when you put Thompson on Brunson.

Pistons need to clean up turnovers in the second half.

Schroder is going to be important this series. Asking Cade to facilitate so much of the offense against playoff defenses is a big ask.

Cade has struggled at times this season late in games when defenses ramp up their intensity. So I am curious how he does in the playoffs. So far, a slow start offensively for everybody.

THJ picked a good time to get hot from three and have some of his best games of the season.

Meadows makes that play look easy in centerfield also.

Seems to be DiVincenco should have been the only one ejected in that skirmish. I did not see every little detail on the back end but the officials seems like they way overreacted with 7 total ejections.

I don't know what is going on with Ausar but the ceiling is a lot lower if his role is going to be reduced.

It's weird seeing Cade not get blitzed every time he touches the ball. He's off to a hot start. If Ivey can develop into all-star type player, it would bode very well for Cade.

I didn't see the whole game but the Piston's defense was outstanding from what I saw. There has definitely been a culture shift where all five guys on the court are working hard on defense a lot more than most NBA teams. Stewart and Ausar set the tone. Obviously, the coaches deserve a lot of credit. And having meaningful games is a big part of it also. It's too bad Steph banked in that three late in the game. That was probably the difference.

Cade's great but we got to figure out how to create offense late in games without turning it over. This seems like it has been an ongoing issue for Cade specifically. Teams just blitz him pretty much as soon as he crosses half court. I thought it was interesting that the Warriors moved Steph off the ball quite a bit late in the game.

Stewart has done a respectable job on Jokic when he can stay on the floor. And by respectable, I mean relative to how we look against Jokic when he is not out there. He's just an impossible cover.

I know Ivey has never been known as a great defender but this game is a great example of how important his growth on defense would be for us. Murray is an extremely tough matchup for Ausar and we just have nobody who can guard him. Cade expends most of his energy on offense and is not really built to be a shut down defender against guys like Murray anyway. We experienced the same thing with Trae Young. And we probably would have experienced the same thing with Jalen Brown if he wasn't injured.

Not sure what is going on with Cade tonight but I didn't realize he still had a game this bad in him.

They are going to need Beasley to bail them out tonight. Ideally, Cade and Beasley both get it going.