Knicks Are Rolling, But Stephen A. Has a Point About the Pistons Problem

Look, the Knicks are playing their best basketball in years. Jalen Brunson is an absolute monster, dropping 35 points against the Hawks on Tuesday and leading the charge. They’ve won seven straight, pushing their record to 42-28, good for the fourth spot in the East. Madison Square Garden is buzzing again, and even the most cynical Knicks fans are starting to believe.

But then you hear Stephen A. Smith, and a little bit of that old dread creeps back in. He’s out there talking about the Detroit Pistons, and yeah, it stings. New York has played Detroit twice during this winning streak. They beat the Pistons 113-111 on February 26th, a game that went down to the wire. Then, on March 18th, they won 124-99, a more comfortable margin, but still. The Pistons, for crying out loud, are 12-58. They’ve been the worst team in the league all season, and beating them by a bucket, or even by 25, isn't exactly a championship statement.

The Schedule's Soft Underbelly

Thing is, Stephen A. isn't wrong about the schedule. Sure, they beat the Kings 98-91 on March 16th, and Sacramento is a playoff team in the West. And taking down the Warriors 119-112 on March 18th was impressive, even with Golden State struggling for consistency. But look at the rest of this seven-game run: Pistons twice, Hawks, Blazers, 76ers. The Hawks are under .500. The Blazers are a lottery team. The Sixers are missing Joel Embiid and have been limping along.

Real talk: this streak looks great on paper, but the competition hasn't exactly been a murderer's row. The Knicks have been feasting on some weaker opponents or teams missing key players. That's what good teams do, sure, but it also makes you wonder what happens when they run into a fully loaded contender. They blew a 17-point lead against the Nuggets on January 25th, losing 113-100. That's the kind of game that truly tests a team's mettle.

Brunson's Brilliance, But What Else?

Jalen Brunson has ascended to superstardom. He's averaging 27.6 points and 6.5 assists this season, and he's been even better during this streak. He dropped 45 points against the Blazers on March 14th. He's carrying this team, no question. Donte DiVincenzo has been lights out from three, hitting 50% from deep in the last five games. Isaiah Hartenstein is pulling down 8.5 boards a night. They're all stepping up.

But can this group, even with OG Anunoby back and healthy, truly contend with the Bostons and Milwaukees of the world? Anunoby's defensive impact is huge, but he's not a primary scorer. Julius Randle's injury has forced others to expand their roles, which is good for development, but it also means less depth. My hot take? The Knicks are still one legitimate second scoring option away from being a true Finals threat. Brunson is phenomenal, but he needs more consistent help against top-tier defenses in a seven-game series.

The Road Ahead

The remaining schedule gets tougher. They still have to play the Celtics twice, the Heat, and the Bucks. Those are the games that will actually tell us something about this Knicks team. Can they extend this run against real contenders? Can they prove Stephen A. wrong and show they're more than just flat-track bullies?

I'm saying the Knicks will hit a wall against Boston next week, losing by double digits.