Ranking The 3 Most Likely Knicks Playoff Opponents by Difficulty

The Philadelphia 76ers

The Knicks match up poorly against the Brooklyn Nets, but they match up terribly against the Philadelphia 76ers. NY is 0-3 against Philly, Though one of these games was a 1 point overtime loss with some questionable calls down the stretch. Unfortunately, Joel Embiid was hurt that game, and Ben Simmons locked Julius Randle down.

The 76ers are the Knicks’ playoff opponents that would give them the worst chance to win. Ben Simmons is probably in first place for the Defensive Player of the Year race and will most likely guard Julius Randle. As my Daily Knicks worker Geoffrey Moore mentioned, the Knicks struggle to close games, and they’ll struggle a lot more facing the likely DPOY in Simmons.

A lot of scoring will go on the shoulders of 20-year-old RJ Barrett, who will have to produce if the Knicks have any shot. Barrett has played relatively poorly against the 76ers, averaging 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 37% from the field and is 0/10 on 3 point attempts on the season.

This will be a battle of two defensive teams. New York holds opponents to the worst field goal and 3 point percentages in the NBA. The 76ers are 27th in 3 point attempts and 25th in field goal attempts. It’s going to be a physical, grind-it-out series.

The Knicks are limited in ways to expose the 76ers, and unlike Brooklyn, it looks like they will be at 100% health come the playoffs. The 76ers are the last team in the East they could beat in a 7 game series, and NY should avoid them at all costs.