In an unexpected development, the Detroit Pistons stamped their ticket to the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
After years of brutal mediocrity, the Detroit Pistons delivered an improbable breakout season that’s now in the books.
Led by the superstar emergence of Cade Cunningham, the Pistons secured 44 wins, the Eastern Conference’s sixth place, and a trip to the league’s postseason arena for the first time since 2019.
The exciting part is now set to begin, with the Pistons slated for a major first-round slug fest against the heavily favored No. 3 New York Knicks.
And for them to put up a huge fight, Draymond Green believes that Detroit will need the stellar production of a player who was his teammate for a few months earlier this season.
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons have come out on top against the New York Knicks this year, taking a commanding 3-1 card out of their 2024-25 regular season series.
This has some significance, but the playoff stage offers a much different atmosphere. New York carries a rich postseason exposure and competed for the title the past two seasons, while Detroit is undoubtedly just a newbie in this field, still searching for its first real taste of a true high-stakes NBA action.
Given this stark contrast, Draymond Green is convinced that Dennis Schroder will play a massive role for the Pistons in going up against the battle-tested Knicks team that boasts several stars from Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart.
“I’m gonna tell you, an underrated piece in this series is Dennis Schroder,” the Golden State Warriors star said on The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.
“Dennis Schroder is different in these playoffs, man. Dennis Schroder is bringing a level of experience to that Pistons team and these playoffs that is going to help stabilize that team with the young guys that ain’t been there much.
“You got these young guys that ain’t been in the playoffs. And then you got DS, who has been in meaningful playoff series, and bringing that level of experience.”
The Pistons’ coveted pick-up from last February, Schroder finally found a home in the Motor City after bouncing from both the Brooklyn Nets and the Warriors this season.
In his entry to the Pistons, Schroder instantly hammered a solid impression around the group in which J.B. Bickerstaff praised him for his impactful “killer instinct”.
A 12-year NBA pro, Schroder truly has a bountiful experience of being under postseason pressure as he was a part of several contending teams from the past. In 2023, he notably played a key role in the seventh-seeded LA Lakers’ improbable trip to the Western Conference Finals.
Beyond Schroder, the Pistons will also need the leadership of Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, and Tim Hardaway Jr. in guiding the promising group against the Knicks. The trio are seasoned vets who will balance out the inexperience.
The Pistons and the Knicks are set for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round bout on April 19, and Green expects nothing but a highly competitive series from both these teams.
“I think the Pistons can give the Knicks problems in this series,” Green said, “I don’t think this is a cake walk.”
Dennis SchröderDetroit PistonsDraymond GreenNew York Knicks
