The expectation was for the New York Knicks to face the Boston Celtics in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals, but the Philadelphia 76ers shattered those hopes. The Sixers’ improbable 3-1 series comeback upset the second-seeded Celtics in the first round, setting up a rematch of their own with the Knicks.
Two years ago, it was New York that got the upper hand over its Atlantic Division rivals in six games of a highly competitive first-round series. Fast forward two years, and both teams have changed greatly.
The Knicks, for starters, acquired a second superstar in Karl-Anthony Towns. The All-Star big man did struggle at some points during this season, but put it aside during the first round. While facing the Atlanta Hawks, he scored more than 20 points in three of the six games it took his team to beat them. In Game 6, Towns recorded a triple-double to showcase his superb passing and rebounding.
Then there’s team captain, Jalen Brunson. Against the Hawks, the All-Star led his team with more than 25 points in four out of the six contests. His best performance came in Game 5 when he posted 39 points in a statement win.
OG Anunoby, on the other hand, has used his defense and three-point shooting to glue together the starting five. Anunoby had his best performance in Game 6, tallying 29 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.
Mikal Bridges is the Knicks’ only outlier in some regards because he went scoreless in Game 3 and committed four turnovers. He also missed what would’ve been the game-winning shot during the final possession of Game 2.
Head coach Mike Brown has come under fire for calling an early timeout in Game 2. He also ran lineups without Brunson or Towns on the court, leading the Knicks to squander leads. Brown did make adjustments in the last three games, but only time can tell if he can keep it up against Nick Nurse’s 76ers.
For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey has been its driving force, averaging 28.3 points and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 46.2%. Against the Celtics, Maxey scored more than 20 points in all seven games. His crowning performance came when his team faced a 3-1 deficit, where he posted 30 points in games six and seven.
Not to mention, former MVP Joel Embiid was finding his way to the basket against Boston. After returning from injury, the All-Star big man recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in game seven. If he maintains this pace, this can set up a competitive matchup against Towns, who has yet to face Embiid in the postseason.
Rookie VJ Edgedombe and Paul George make up the rest of Philadelphia’s starting five. In his playoff win, Edgedombe scored 30 against the Celtics, as George scored more than 15 in all seven games.
The Knicks and 76ers met three times this season, with New York taking the season series by winning the second and third matchups. New York will look to continue that stretch of wins going into game one of the Eastern Conference semifinals, which starts on Monday at Madison Square Garden, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
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