Malik Beasley has played in 11 different NBA arenas in the playoffs, from Madison Square Garden in New York to the Chase Center in San Francisco. Nothing matches Little Caesars Arena.
"Playoff wise, it’s the best experience I’ve ever had in my entire career, and that’s not cap," Beasley said ahead of Game 6 between the Pistons and the Knicks Thursday night in Detroit.
How so?
"Just the atmosphere, the chants that they do, never heard it before," Beasley said. "The atmosphere, the energy is amazing."
Little Caesars Arena was rocking for Games 3 and 4 of this series, even as the Pistons came up short. The fans were especially fired up to heckle Knicks star Jalen Brunson, serenading him in boos and chants of "F**k-you-Brun-son."
Brunson actually complimented the crowd after Game 3, saying it was unlike any environment he's ever experienced in the NBA -- as someone who's played in 11 different arenas in the playoffs himself.
"I give them a lot of credit," he said. "They made that environment special for their home team. We just found a way to win the game, but that was definitely a lot, so you gotta give a lot of credit to that fan base."
In addition to Detroit, New York and Golden State, Beasley has also been a part of playoff games at Denver, San Antonio, Portland, Minnesota, Memphis, Los Angeles (Lakers), Milwaukee and Indiana.
With a win Thursday night, the Pistons will force the series back to MSG and put the pressure on the three-seed Knicks to finish the job -- or choke on their home court.
"We’re down 3-2, we won two games, and we have not played our best basketball yet," Beasley said. "That’s why we have the confidence, that’s why J.B. (Bickerstaff) feels great about where we are."
The Pistons have already won two of three at The Garden this series, and four of five this season. Beasley says they like having "our backs are against the wall."
"You’re going to have to knock us down as many times as we get up, because we’re going to keep fighting," he said. "We’re going to keep punching. That’s our game."