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Knicks' 'Lack of Effort' Costs Them to Pistons

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, February 20th 2026 at 2:09 GMT by Sporting News
      Locales: Michigan, New York, UNITED STATES

Detroit, MI - February 20, 2026 - Jose Alvarado's post-game assessment after the Detroit Pistons' 113-104 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night wasn't a nuanced basketball critique filled with strategic jargon. It was a stark, almost painful honesty: "They just played harder than us." While often dismissed as a simple excuse, Alvarado's words expose a deeper issue plaguing the Knicks - and increasingly, several teams vying for playoff contention in the tightly packed Eastern Conference: a consistent lack of effort and an inability to maintain intensity for a full 48 minutes.

Detroit's season sweep of the Knicks (now 36-29) isn't merely about a head-to-head record; it's symptomatic of a wider struggle for New York to impose its will on opponents, especially those hungry and motivated to climb the standings. The Knicks, currently holding a fragile two-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers for the fourth seed, are showing worrying cracks in their armor as the regular season nears its conclusion.

Alvarado didn't shy away from placing the blame squarely on his team's lack of execution and physicality. He highlighted their failings beyond mere statistics: a failure to make the "right reads," struggles finishing around the rim, and an overall lack of aggressiveness. These aren't deficiencies that can be fixed with a new player acquisition or a complicated offensive scheme; they are fundamental issues of want-to and will. The Pistons, led by a dominant performance from Cade Cunningham (31 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists), simply outworked the Knicks.

This isn't an isolated incident. The Knicks' recent slump - five losses in their last seven games - underscores a pattern. While possessing considerable talent, particularly in Jalen Brunson, who led the team with 24 points against Detroit, the Knicks haven't consistently demonstrated the relentless energy required to win in a competitive conference. They appear to be a team that can win, but not a team that always will.

Looking beyond the Knicks, the Eastern Conference is evolving into a battle of attrition. The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks remain the clear frontrunners, but the fight for playoff positioning from third through eighth is a brutal scramble. Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and even the improving Indiana Pacers are all demonstrating a willingness to embrace physicality and consistently outhustle opponents. This emphasis on effort is proving to be a major differentiator.

The Knicks' struggles highlight the increasing importance of 'grit' and 'toughness' - qualities often undervalued in the modern NBA, which prioritizes spacing and three-point shooting. While New York boasts a talented roster capable of offensive fireworks, they are consistently being exposed by teams willing to grind it out defensively and control the paint. The Pistons, a team rebuilding and playing with youthful exuberance, exemplified this perfectly, proving that desire can often trump pure talent.

Coach Tom Thibodeau faces a critical juncture. He needs to find a way to instill a consistent level of intensity in his players, and more importantly, to hold them accountable when they fail to bring it. Simply dissecting game film (as Alvarado suggests they must do) isn't enough. There needs to be a cultural shift within the team, a renewed commitment to the fundamentals of effort, physicality, and unwavering focus. The 76ers, if they continue to improve, present a serious threat to the Knicks' playoff seeding and expose their inconsistency further.

The Knicks' remaining schedule includes several crucial matchups against Eastern Conference rivals. Their ability to address these issues of effort and consistency will determine whether they are genuine contenders or merely a talented team destined for an early playoff exit. The Pistons' success serves as a potent reminder: in a league brimming with talent, the team that wants it more often emerges victorious.