The series is set. It will be Sixers vs Knicks in round 1. They survived the Play-In Tournament and beat the Heat.
Survive is the keyword there. Their game vs the Heat was in a word, ugly. Joel Embiid struggled to get going until the 4th quarter. Tyrese Maxey struggled for chunks of the game. And the Heats’ Zone D suffocated them. The Sixers turned it over 16 times and had only 39 points at halftime.
But a big game from Nico Batum got them back in it after an early deficit. 20 points, including 6 for 10 from deep. That push from him erased the Heats’ lead in the 3rd quarter, and the Sixers just held on in a close game from there.
Next Up, Sixers vs Knicks
It gets no easier for the Sixers now that they are actually in the playoffs though. Because up next, is a 7-game series against the 2-seed Knicks.
Jalen Brunson has turned into a superstar for them. They added OG Anunoby and Donte DiVincenzo to that starting group as well. But they are without Julius Randle.
We hoped Embiid was going into the playoffs healthy. But we saw a sluggish Embiid in the Heat game. He still managed 23 points and 15 rebounds, but it was not the Embiid we are used to. It wasn’t even the Embiid we got in the 5 games since he got back.
Can the Sixers take down the Knicks to advance to the 2nd round? Will Embiid’s domination of the Knicks continue? Should we be concerned about how good this Knicks team is when OG Anunoby is on the court?
The series tips off on Saturday Night at Madison Square Garden. But before game 1 begins, let’s take a closer look at this series, and the history between these two teams.
Here are 5 Numbers To Know Before The Start of the Sixers vs Knicks:
31-41
It is not just the players competing though, it is also the coaches. And Tom Thibodeau does not have the best history in the playoffs. In his career, he is 31-44 in the playoffs. Compare that to Nick Nurse, who is 25-16, with a Championship.
Nick Nurse has established his style can work in the playoffs. But it has always been a stumbling block for Thibodeau. He has had a ton of regular-season success in his career. And he deserves credit for turning the Knicks into one of the most competitive teams in the league. But the playoff ghost hangs over his head, and will until he leads his team to success in the playoffs.
om Thibodeau
20-3
Sixers fans all know how great of a record the Sixers have when Embiid plays. But the Knicks also dealt with injuries. OG Anunoby was traded to the Knicks mid-season, and missed time with an injury. But when he plays, they are 20-3.
The combo of him and Brunson make the Knicks an elite team. Since OG returned from injury in Mid-March, they are 8-1. So while we talk about the Sixers going into the playoffs hot thanks to getting Embiid back, the Knicks are in the same boat thanks to getting OG back.
