NY Knicks: Previewing The Upcoming Slate of Games

NY Knicks take on the #1 team in East, The Philadelphia 76ers

The Knicks will head to Philadelphia one day after their first matchup with the Nets.

After a disappointing 2019-2020 season, the Sixers sit atop the Eastern Conference at 24-12. Doc Rivers has done for 76ers star Joel Embiid what he did for Blake Griffin when he took over the Clippers in 2013: rejuvenated his promising career and rounded him into MVP form when healthy. Always a colorful character, Embiid is backing up his talking by averaging 30 points and 12 rebounds per game on 52% shooting and, notably, 42% three-point shooting.

Embiid is a big reason the Sixers are so good this year, but the team that has been built around him also deserves some credit. Ben Simmons, for his shooting deficiencies, has emerged as one of the league’s best defensive players and was named to his third consecutive all-star team. Tobias Harris is a skilled iso-scorer averaging 20 points on over 51% shooting. Shooters like Seth Curry and Danny Green provide solid spacing and players like Dwight Howard, Matisse Thybulle, and Tyrese Maxey provide bench depth.

This is an excellent basketball team and one that may soon be adding pit-bull point guard Kyle Lowry. 

So, yes, as is the theme for this piece, the Sixers will represent a steep challenge for the NY Knicks in their two upcoming matchups.

Simmons and Embiid missed the All-Star festivities and are out a few games due to COVID protocol, but will likely be back in time for the games against the Knicks. Both players shone in the December 26th matchup at MSG, leading their team to a 109-89 victory.

Of the three teams previewed in this piece, the Sixers seem like the best matchup for the Knicks. The two are similar mentally: tough-nosed and prideful on defense (especially if they add Kyle Lowry), deep, and, as far as expectations are concerned, overachieving.

It’s easy to imagine both games being hard-fought and in doubt late into the fourth quarter. These will be the kinds of games that Julius Randle shines in, the kinds of battles where he finds a way to make a difference even if he’s having an off-shooting night. Gritty veterans like Derrick Rose, Nerlens Noel, and Reggie Bullock will also need to contribute in key ways. Though not the favored outcome, I do not believe a 2-0 sweep of the upcoming Sixers games is out of the question.