New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado, a recent trade acquisition, dismissed concerns about being swept by the Detroit Pistons in the regular season. The Knicks lost all three matchups against Detroit, including Thursday's 15-point defeat.
'Playoffs is a whole different ball game,' Alvarado told reporters. 'When it counts, that's when it matters.' This approach mirrors the Knicks' past performance, as they were also swept by Boston and Cleveland last season but still defeated Boston in the playoffs. However, this was under former coach Tom Thibodeau, with Mike Brown now leading the team.