On the fifty-fourth episode of the Hot Hand Theory Podcast, Geoff and XJ break down the Knicks’ first-round matchup against the Detroit Pistons — and exactly what they need to do to control the series from Game 1.

Before jumping into the playoff preview, they look back at the Knicks’ 51-win regular season — the highs, the frustrations, and why it’s fair for fans to feel both proud and underwhelmed. With the talent on this roster, the postseason is where expectations truly begin.

Cade Cunningham is a rising star, but Detroit just doesn’t have the firepower or depth to match New York — unless the Knicks make it harder than it needs to be. The guys get into what the data says and what the strategy and matchups should be on both ends of the court.

In this episode XJ and Geoff cover:

🔹 Regular season recap and why Knicks fans are right to expect more

🔹 The dominance of the Knicks’ five-shooter lineup

🔹 Cade’s usage rate, shot profile, and how to slow him down

🔹 Defensive tweaks the Knicks should make (but probably won’t)

🔹 Josh Hart’s shooting dilemma and what Thibs needs to decide

Drop a comment and let us know — how confident are you in the Knicks this series? Do you trust Thibs to make the right adjustments?

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