New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers First Round Preview

The New York Knicks are facing off tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers in the start of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Knicks, who are the two seed are led by Jalen Brunson and Co. The Sixers are led by Joel Embiid and Co. Both of these clubs faced off against each other four times in the regular season (NYK won season series 3-1).

Knicks keys to winning the series: Stopping Embiid and Maxey

The Knicks are the favorites to win this series, and rightfully so, but Philly has reigning MVP Joel Embiid and Most Improved Player Candidate PG Tyrese Maxey. Do the Knicks have the tools to limit these players? Yes. OG Anunoby can guard 1-5 and if he never got hurt, he’d probably be one of the leading candidates for DPOY, and he had a defensive rating of 116.6 in the regular season. He could rotate on both Embiid and Maxey. Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson are one of the NBA’s most underrated and best center tandems. January 5th is a good game to look back on. The Knicks routed the 76ers, 128-92, and the Knicks held Joel Embiid to 43% from the field, while also holding Maxey to 45% from the field.

One of the Matchups to Watch: Donte DiVincenzo vs. Kelly Oubre Jr.

Earlier in the season, in a close and gutted out game, Donte and Oubre got into an altercation, which led to double T’s. DiVincenzo has lit the world on fire this year, making 283 threes this year, shooting it at a 40.1% clip, and setting the Knicks franchise record for most threes made in a season by a Knick. Oubre’s been good too. He has his games. Overall on the season, he’s averaging 15 PPG. He’s very streaky, but if he’s on, he’s a bucket. A matchup to watch for.

Potential X-Factor for the Knicks?

Yes, OG Anunoby has a potential to be the X-Factor for the Knicks this series. Not only with his defense, but his shot is lethal when he’s going. As a Knick, he’s hovering at around 50% FG and 40% from three. He attacks the rim, he doesn’t draw many fouls, but he’s another guy that the Knicks need to absolutely have coming out firing this series.

Needing to handle the non-Brunson minutes

Bojan Bogdanovic, who was a trade deadline acquisition from the Pistons in early February, started off slow, but his shot has really come along as of late. When Jalen Brunson is off the floor, the ball is often in his hands, and he’s the main shot creator off the bench. He’s been dealing with a bit of a wrist ailment, but he’s surprisingly been shooting the ball much better since the injury. Over the last 10 games, he’s shooting just under 40% from three, and he’s 9 for his last 19 from beyond the arc, which is just under a 50% clip. If the Knicks want to have good minutes all over the place, Bogdanovic is a very important player in this series.

This is gonna be a good series, no way around it. You’ve got two superstars (Brunson, Embiid) and a whole bunch of dawgs out there. My prediction: Knicks over Philly in 6 games.