The New York Knicks are playing their first real life basketball game in nine months against the Detroit Pistons.

Game Details:

Where: The Palace at Auburn Hills

Against whom: Detroit Pistons

TIme: 7:00

Network: MSG

Anticipation rating: 6/5 stars

Say it with me, everyone: The Knicks are back!

Yes, it’s been nine whole months since Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 and the NBA season got put on hold, thus ending the Knicks’ season early with a rousing win against the Atlanta Hawks. A lot has changed since then, but, as it turns out, a lot has stayed the same too:

Yes, that lineup is more or less just like what we saw last year a bunch — just sub in Burks for Marcus Morris and Noel for Taj Gibson. Payton and Randle are especially unwelcome to most Knicks fans as a pairing (or maybe even individually). But fret not, Tom Thibodeau says that plenty of guys will be getting run tonight:

If absolutely nothing else, that means we shouldn’t see a repeat of RJ Barrett playing like 42 minutes in a preseason game this year! (Remember that?)

On the other side of things, the Pistons have what you also might call an… interesting starting lineup:

Stingy will do these in the future, and I’ll fully admit that I have very little else to say in regards to this game other than to say that I hope Thibs is telling the truth about giving everyone a chance. Tell ya what, here’s a little unfiltered Strickland Slack chat if you want some random thoughts:

Collin Loring
I am very happy

Because basketball

Shwinnypooh
You generally seem like a happy bloke

Collin Loring
Something like that.

Points prediction on Obi?

I’ve got him scoring a cool 16.

jon schulman
22

Shwinnypooh
How many minutes is he playing?

jon schulman
22

Alex Wolfe
22 rebounds too

Shwinnypooh
I just hope we get a chance to see him Mitch and RJ on the floor today with some shooting. THAT'S ALL I ASK!

Alex Wolfe
On 22% shooting

Collin Loring
I can’t imagine there are higher priorities than that Shwinn

jon schulman
Quickster, frank (who is now a 39% three point shooter) rj, obi (40%) mitch

Collin Loring
that would be very nice, yes

do we know if Blake is playing?

not that it matters, at all, but curious

jon schulman
He’s appearing

Shwinnypooh
Would also love to see DSJ Frank and Kev get some run together with Noel anchoring at the 5.

Collin Loring
That could make for positive results

Baskets made, points scored, etc...

Lames
a rare positive stink (Stingy) sighting!!

cherish it folks

Alex Wolfe
Shwin pretending he wants to see DSJ play smh. After all the SLANDER in here in recent weeks

jon schulman
Tonight should suck

Be terrible

Shwinnypooh
If he's gonna play that's the one scenario I want to see it in. I don't believe he's gonna turn it around and I'm not sure why everybody is re-writing how "good" he's ever been, but it's preseason! Why not?

jon schulman
And bad and upsetting

The gloom is doomy

Shwinnypooh
Shutup stink

jon schulman
You’re sweet i like you

StacyPatton
I just hope both teams have fun

Also Killian vs frank will be fun

Alex Wolfe
…for Frank

jon schulman
Killian definitely getting his food ATE by frank

Alex Wolfe
Or maybe it won’t even be fun for Frank. I’d imagine it’s hard to have to put one of your close personal friends and countrymen out of their misery

StacyPatton
Any starting lineup predictions?

jon schulman
Frank burks knox obi randle

Jk thought i’d take ya for a ride

Payton/burks/rj/randle/mitch

StacyPatton
Ugh Randle

Lames
I'm insanely horny for Knicks preseason action

Elf / Burks / RJ / Obi / Noel

jon schulman
Oh my god that lineup is feet pix

Aka SHAMEFUL

aka too raunched up

StacyPatton
Quickley Burks RJ Toppin Mitch

Lames
They're gonna want a REAL FLOOR GENERAL out there to start

StacyPatton
Julius Randle

Lames

ok, prediction time

Elf / Burks / RJ / Randle / Mitch

Rivers is out?

(Knicks lineup news breaks)

Wach
well that explains why mitch was big mad earlier

Lames
yeah

not shocked

Wach
but also is a little concerning if that's why he was big mad earlier

it's preseason relax

i bet he was expecting to walk into that job fo FREE

Drew
That’s a big Mitch problem if that’s what he’s just gonna expect.

Also, I got 4/5 starters right

Lames
i think the maturity issue is real

Wach
yeah that seems pretty clear at this point

wee bit concerning

Drew 5:50 PM

Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s something like this to see how these guys mesh and decide who to keep

jon schulman
Saw some one say mitch was mad because dotson screwed hik over while playing a video game

Prez
I need to see if shwin keeps his preseason energy when they start noel and Julius in the reg season

jon schulman

Prez
That's a gigantic lineup

jon schulman
Yup. Svi 6’7-8 too

Prez
Hayes and svi tall

Right

Lames
THAT'S FRANK'S MUSIC

jon schulman
Frank is seriously exactly the guy that killian should be petrified of

By?

Prez
Yep frank struggles w guys with blowby speed

But guys who play w the ball? clinks

jon schulman
Cuffing season

Comment along below, this is your game thread for those that transplanted here from P&T!