DETROIT — Through three games, Dennis Schroder is outscoring the entire Knicks bench.
The Pistons guard has been a somewhat unexpected factor so far in these best-of-seven, opening-round playoff series, but the above statistic is also emblematic of the Knicks’ reserves struggling to make an impact.
Schroder has scored 46 points in this series, and the Knicks’ bench has accounted for 39, and only 17 in the last two games.
The reserves did play a major role in the come-from-behind, Game 1 victory, particularly Cam Payne, who exploded for 11 of his 14 points in the opener.
The Knicks may not have won without him.
But since, Payne has managed just four points in 13 minutes.
Miles McBride hasn’t looked right, either, shooting 4-of-14 from the field.
Landry Shamet has scored only two points in the entire series.
Mitchell Robinson, in fact, has been the most consistent player off the bench for Tom Thibodeau’s team.
He was effective in Game 3, producing four rebounds and two steals in 16 minutes.
Thibodeau has begun to play Robinson with Karl-Anthony Towns more in a two big man look that gives the Knicks more rim protection and size.
Really, it has been a mismatch if you compare the two benches.
It hasn’t just been Schroder.
Malik Beasley has been almost as potent, scoring 41 points in the three games, and rookie Ronald Holland II is coming off a strong performance, in which he had six points, two rebounds and a block in 12 minutes.
Depth hasn’t been a Knicks strength all year.
They are top-heavy, led by the their-scoring starters.
They were last in the league in scoring from their bench, at 21.7 points.
The Lakers, at 26.2, were next to last.
That has carried over into the postseason.
It has yet to hurt them, but this series could have a long way to go still.
Sunday’s meeting at Little Caesars Arena will likely determine that, if the Knicks can take a 3-1 stranglehold or the Pistons can even it up at two games apiece.
