The postseason matchup between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers is becoming one of the most enjoyable first-round series so far. Despite missing Julius Randle, New York has managed to maintain the home-court advantage, taking the first two games against the Sixers.
However, the series is far from ending, and ruling out Philadelphia would be an unwise move to do. How is the end of this matchup going to play out?
Knicks’ Upper Hand
With the series now 2-0 in favor of the Knicks, we were able to see their increased team chemistry, consistency, and overall solid flow throughout the first two matches. Despite Jalen Brunson performing rather poorly, the rest of the squad has lived up to the initial expectations and even exceeded them. Names such as Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Isaiah Hartenstein have performed brilliantly when necessary, being effective on both ends of the court, and undergoing a massive improvement defensively.
When Brunson increases his phenomenal percentages and boosts his confidence, the team will perform even better, which can ultimately compromise Philadelphia’s ability to tie the series.
76ers’ Misfortune
First and foremost, they lost both games by a single-digit margin. Either because of their lack of cohesion when closing games or their decision-making, they failed to secure the win after having an advantage when clutch time started. But perhaps the main topic to address regarding the 76ers organization is Joel Embiid. With the unclear condition of his knee due to the recent meniscus injury he suffered from, he is clearly not at 100%.
As a result, Philadelphia looked like a different team when he stepped out. They desperately need him for a deep playoff run. Nevertheless, the other parts of the Sixer puzzle are at a great level, with a shining, highly efficient Tyrese Maxey, and a solid Nicolas Batum, Kyle Lowry, and even Tobias Harris.
As we have seen, the series is far from done. The remaining games are bound to be an exciting, competitive, and physical matchup. Both rosters are incredibly talented from top to bottom. Therefore, we still expect the upcoming matches to be tight in terms of scoring. We cannot wait for the rest of the series. Who is your go-to team here? Let us know!
text sources: nba.com
