Cade Cunningham envisions a tough battle in his Pistons playoff series against the Knicks.
“It’s going to be a war,” the Pistons star said Sunday on ESPN. “It’s going to be highly physical games — defense, battling it out on the glass, all of those different things.
“I think it’s going to be a super exciting series for people at home to watch, and it’s going to be a great test for us as far as first round, first series in a long time for the organization. So it’s exciting, and I think it’s going to be a great one for us.”
Cunningham, a first-time All-Star this season and strong candidate for All-NBA, torched the Knicks in four matchups this regular season, averaging 30.8 points with 8.3 assists while shooting over 56 percent.
“Throughout the whole year, just a really good player,” said Mikal Bridges, who was one of the main defenders on Cunningham this season.
“Just goes at his own pace, he’s calm at all times,” Bridges continued. “And I think this year, even the year before, but this year [especially], more playmaking … Making more reads. Getting other guys open, knowing he has the ball in his hands more, but still getting other guys going, knowing he has more opportunities.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said he’s giving the Pistons and Cunningham, ‘the proper amount of respect.’”
“He’s had a terrific season. It’s not just [against] us, he’s done it against everybody. We understand that. … With great players you don’t guard them individually, you guard them collectively,” Thibodeau said. “So we have to understand what goes into that.”
By winning Sunday, the Knicks eclipsed last season’s mark by one victory and secured the franchise’s best record since 2013.
“I just said that to our team, you win 51 games, you’re the third seed, so you’ve earned the right to be in the playoffs,” Thibdoeau said. “You’re not in the play-in, so you have a week to prepare and get ready for the next challenge. It’s really a new season. The regular season puts you in position, gives you the opportunity, you want to finish with the highest seed possible and then you start all over.
“Everyone’s record is zero and zero. You’ve got to earn everything again. We have to understand what goes into it. In terms of preparation, we’re big believers in how we prepare. Now it’s time to get ready and study.”