13 ideas and tidbits on Sixers-Knicks 1st-round collection initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia
For the seventh consecutive season, the Sixers have earned a visit to the playoffs.
With Sport 1 of their first-round collection in opposition to the Knicks on Saturday night time at Madison Sq. Backyard, let’s run by way of 13 ideas and tidbits on the matchup:
1. Counting the Sixers’ play-in match victory Wednesday vs. the Warmth, Joel Embiid has performed simply six video games since coming back from his left meniscus damage.
When he’s feeling good, the reigning MVP usually tends to look unstoppable. Nonetheless, the Knicks seem comparatively well-equipped to protect him. Isaiah Hartenstein is a high-level defender. Mitchell Robinson — additionally lately again from a long-term damage absence — is an excellent shot blocker. Valuable Achiuwa and OG Anunoby know all about guarding Embiid from their Raptors days with present Sixers head coach Nick Nurse.
After all, all schemes in opposition to Embiid contain a number of defenders. Embiid will have to be cautious of the Knicks’ wings and forwards — Josh Hart, Anunoby, Donte DiVincenzo — lurking in gaps, able to pounce.
Although decisive assaults are often efficient for Embiid, he might typically have the ability to get good photographs by way of endurance. When Anunoby didn’t decide to a full-on dig at Embiid on the play beneath, the seven-time All-Star slid over to the left facet of the ground, created extra of a real 1-on-1 state of affairs, and sunk a cushty mid-range jumper.
So long as Embiid is conscious of all of the potential assist defenders round him, there’s nothing mistaken with these sorts of cat-and-mouse moments.
2. Paint catches for Embiid are at all times welcome.
As Nicolas Batum himself stated, he can’t be anticipated to copy his 20-point efficiency in opposition to Miami each recreation. Nonetheless, elite entry passing is one in every of his many non-scoring instruments.
It’s common for the Sixers’ primary Horns duck-in play to set Embiid up close to the ring.
Simplicity generally is a legitimate counter at instances to the Knicks’ maximum-effort, robust, gritty fashion.
3. Embiid’s one outing vs. New York this season got here in a 36-point loss again on Jan. 5. Tyrese Maxey’s monitor file in opposition to the Knicks can also be not particularly telling.
Maxey was sidelined by a concussion for the extraordinarily low-scoring opener of the Sixers’ March mini-series at Madison Sq. Backyard. And although he returned two days later, Maxey’s conditioning was effectively underneath 100%.
Zooming out, we expect it’s cheap to imagine this collection will check the All-Star guard’s enchancment at sustaining his aggression by way of tough patches and adjusting when whistles don’t go his approach.
“I needed to discuss to him loads tonight about attacking extra, driving extra,” Nurse stated Wednesday after the Sixers’ play-in win. “When guys are selecting him up within the backcourt, going round them — and simply carry on going.
“As nice of a defender as Jimmy Butler is, I stated, ‘He’s not as quick as you, man. Simply activate the jets and attempt to go round him a couple of instances.’ I believe he did halfway by way of the third (quarter) on, however I believed he was a little bit passive for an excellent a part of the sport.”
4. The Sixers will need Maxey to speed up downhill when the Knicks’ massive males play drop protection and their guards fall behind performs.
The occasional stack pick-and-roll may be worthwhile, too. If including a 3rd participant to the combination results in any defensive confusion or hesitation, that clearly boosts Maxey’s possibilities of reaching the rim.
Batum was that third man within the Jan. 5 play above, setting a again display on Hartenstein. Now, the Sixers even have Kyle Lowry’s screening potential to name upon in these actions. Buddy Hield’s ghost screens are of their arsenal as effectively.
5. Like Embiid, Knicks star Jalen Brunson will see quite a lot of defensive coverages.
Kelly Oubre Jr. will certainly be a part of the Sixers’ plan. Oubre spent extra time guarding Brunson this season than he did every other participant.
That’s primarily as a result of he was good at it. In line with NBA.com’s monitoring, Brunson scored 17 factors on 5-for-16 taking pictures with eight assists and 4 turnovers when Oubre defended him.
Oubre’s agility and size (wingspan a shade over 7-foot-2) are property vs. the 6-foot-2 Brunson. He’s able to chewing up area to successfully contest — and even block — jumpers.
Towards Brunson, it’s essential to keep away from overzealous performs. He’ll draw fouls on reckless or sloppy closeouts. Brunson will make troublesome photographs, however strong protection works simply fantastic.
6. When the Knicks see the Sixers switching one by way of 4, they could very effectively set ball screens for Brunson to create higher matchups.
Naturally, Brunson’s recreation will develop extra bodily in opposition to fellow level guards.
Normally, the Knicks don’t thoughts a bodily contest in any way.
“The sport relies on physicality,” Oubre stated Friday. “And you must be sensible, too. So retaining our brains intact whereas we’re being bodily and enjoying football-like basketball. I believe it’ll be the higher staff with the best IQ who could make modifications and counter the aggression … they’re going to be the (winners).
“However on the finish of the day, Coach Nurse is a wizard relating to understanding recreation plans and getting us able to play. So I’m going to simply take heed to no matter he has to say and exit and do it.”
7. The Knicks led the NBA this yr in offensive rebounding charge, per Cleansing the Glass. In the meantime, the Sixers ranked twenty sixth in defensive rebounding charge.
The Sixers know they will’t let the Knicks be dominant in that division.
“I believe that definitely it’s a stylistic attribute of them,” Nurse stated. “They actually hit the glass. They’ve acquired loads of dimension, energy, and athleticism. … We’ve acquired to dam out, proper? They go in there, they’re bodily, they throw you round loads.
“Hopefully, a few of that stuff will get known as. It’s not only a complete shoving match in there. You do have rights while you’re blocking out and hopefully we get a few of these. However yeah, it’s going to be one of many keys to this collection for certain.”
Laborious-crashing Knicks like Hart shall be wanting to punish any ball watching.
8. Oubre hasn’t performed within the postseason since 2018. For Buddy Hield, this playoff collection would be the first of his NBA profession.
“I believe it’s a blessing,” the 31-year-old taking pictures guard stated. “Thank God for the chance. … With the commerce, seeing Indiana making it, my previous staff in Sacramento making (the play-in), I simply felt like, ’S—, when is my time?’ Simply acquired to be affected person, and I used to be affected person about it. And I really feel like when you recover from that hump, every part begins falling the place it’s speculated to be.
“I’m simply glad. I’m excited, man. I’m excited for these guys, I’m excited for the teaching employees that now we have. To be in Philadelphia, first time making the playoffs, it’s a blessing. It wasn’t fairly, however we acquired it carried out.”
9. Tobias Harris scored a season-low two factors within the Sixers’ March 12 loss to New York.
Throughout 4 video games in opposition to the Knicks, Harris averaged 6.3 factors, 5.5 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists. He shot 11 for 35 from the ground and a pair of for 11 from three-point vary.
10. Barring unimaginable brilliance defensively, that kind of manufacturing from Harris wouldn’t benefit heavy minutes.
Nurse’s choice to shut with out Harris within the play-in match suggests the veteran ahead gained’t be an automated member of late-game lineups.
“I believe that any a kind of six, seven (gamers) perhaps, it may find yourself that approach,” Nurse stated Friday. “I actually thought that the opposite night time it simply ended that approach. I believed Tobias performed so arduous, however he sort of acquired to ‘E’ on the tank. We had him in a very long time for some matchup causes and we simply couldn’t appear to get him out of there. … That they had their man in, too, and I believed, ‘Man, he actually wanted a relaxation.’ Then that group managed to play effectively collectively.
“A whole lot of that’s simply sort of really feel of what’s happening, and I think about that’s going to remain the identical. Even with Kyle, it was like, ‘Ought to we get Kyle again in or not?’ It was a difficult one. And we did, and he made a pair nice performs. I believe it’s at all times six, seven guys down the stretch, relying on who we want at each ends of the ground.”
11. If each the Sixers and Knicks start with their anticipated lineups, 40 % of the starters shall be former Villanova Wildcats — Brunson, Hart, DiVincenzo and Lowry.
12. The Knicks’ playoff roster has two former Sixers in Alec Burks and Shake Milton. No present Sixers participant has ever suited up for the Knicks.
13. The final time the Sixers beat the Knicks in a playoff collection, Moses Malone averaged 31.3 factors and 15.5 rebounds.
