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Wally Szczerbiak, an MSG Network analyst, said the Knicks must overcome “fractured confidence” and anything less than an annihilation of the Pistons would be an indictment on the locker room.
“We’re going to learn a lot about the interior of this locker room in this series quick,” Szczerbiak said on MSG Network’s playoff preview show. “Because the talent is there. They should blow out this Detroit team when you go player for player.
“If they don’t dominate this series, there’s something going on in that locker room that’s not right.”
The Knicks, seeded third, are heavy favorites in the first round against the No. 6 Pistons, who are trying to win their first playoff game since 2008.
However, Detroit beat New York in three of its four head-to-heads this season, including Friday in Little Caesars Arena.
The Knicks enter Game 1 on Saturday having lost three of four to end the regular season, with Jalen Brunson still finding his bearings and rhythm after a month-long injury absence.
The Knicks renovated their roster last summer by acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns for a glut of assets, but it resulted in just one more victory than last season and a lower seed in the East.
“The chemistry is not where it was last year going into the playoffs. That’s something this team is going to have to find quick,” Szczerbiak said. “Jalen Brunson is the captain. He’s the head of that locker room. He’s going to have to lead by example and play at a high level to get all those guys comfortable. Because I think there is some fractured confidence in that locker room.
“And getting this playoff season, and getting these playoff games off to the right start is going to be on Jalen Brunson to set the tone and everybody else follows.”
Szczerbiak, a former All-Star with the Timberwolves, added the Knicks will snatch away Detroit’s confidence and bullyball tendencies by dominating Game 1 at MSG.
“You’re the better team, you’re the more skilled team. You got to match the physicality but you can’t let it get in your head,” Szczerbiak said. “That’s when the Pistons win – when they get in your head with their little bumps, with their little shimmies, with their little antics. Just let your play do the talking. You have the homecourt advantage. Set the tone by throttling this team in Game 1.
“And that physicality will go away.”
