3 Takeaways From The New York Knicks Game 1 Victory Over The Philadelphia 76ers

The Knicks Sixers Game 1 was everything it was supposed to be. Both teams defensively smothered the other and both teams struggled offensively. It was a back-and-forth battle but my beloved New York Knicks took home the 111-104 victory to go up 1-0.

Game 1 is a great indicator of how a series will play out—especially in round 1. It separates the serious teams from teams who happened to play 82 games and ended up with a decent enough record forcing them to play more games.

Here are my 3 takeaways from Knicks Sixers Game 1:

1. Joel Embiid isn’t right

I understand why star athletes attempt to play through injuries—especially during the playoffs. In a post-First Take world where players only get praise if they win multiple championships averaging 40 points a game, it makes sense for Joel Embiid to tear his meniscus and play through it like when an action movie star gets shot or stabbed and has to just tie a dirty tourniquet around the wound and keep it moving.¹.

But then shit like this happens:

JOEL EMBIID OMG

Hope he’s okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/nbQCbQWml1

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 20, 2024

Always wonderful when your team’s best player cannot jump without his knees leaking fluid.

Embiid came back in the second half. He shot 2-for-11 and exclusively hung around the 3-point line stealing company time.

I genuinely enjoy Embiid’s game and it sucks seeing him be a total nonfactor in playoff games every year because his legs hurt.

But I can’t imagine Embiid will magically heal over the course of this series. His knee will only get worse. And if Joel literally cannot jump then I’m not sure why he’s on the court. Sure, he’s 7-feet tall and can contest shots without leaving the ground but it’s also instinctual to jump when contesting a shot at the rim and Embiid can’t land back on his feets without yelping like Tom after Jerry drops an anvil on his big toe.

2. The Sixers stink

I spent Saturday afternoon at a baby’s first birthday. Hordes of screaming children murdering each other on the bouncy castle while I sat in the corner hunched over my shattered iPhone screen attempting to watch the Suns/Timberwolves game with no wifi. Hell.

But whenever I was forced to interact with another male adult, it felt like they were required to tell me they believed the Sixers were a better basketball team and I should be worried.

I wasn’t worried.

Let’s look at some point totals from the Sixers role players:

Kelly Oubre – 10 points
Tobias Harris – 7 points
Paul Reed – 4 points
Nic Batum – 3 points

Leading up to the series, Kelly Oubre mocked Madison Square Garden celebrities and Paul Reed said the Knicks were an easy team to beat. ² They combined for 14 points. Sick.

It’s a one-game sample size and role players historically play better at home than on the road but if Joel Embiid is limping up and down the court, these guys can’t be ‘role players’. They have to play like stars and I have NO reason to believe Tobias fucking Harris is capable of playing like a star.

Kyle Lowry scored 18 points and had a major impact on the game. I reckon that’s the Sixers whole thing? They expect one of their role players to have the best game of their life.

Weird strategy but ok.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t work unless Embiid and Tyrese Maxey score 30 points each.

Otherwise, this is a group of bums who would have a difficult time cracking the Knicks rotation. Kelly Oubre would be on the end of the bench next to Alec Burks and a random Toppin brother.

3. Josh Hart and OG Anunoby cannot be on the floor together

In 2021, the Knicks lost a first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks after 5 excruciating games where New York could not figure out how to get the ball in the rim. Julius Randle and RJ Barrett were the only players in the starting five who could dribble and I’m being generous saying Randle can dribble.

Reggie Bullock, Elfrid Payton and Nerlens Noel/Taj Gibson were allergic to scoring.

3 years later and the Knicks have once again committed to a lineup where 3 guys are just nothings with the ball. Isaiah Hartenstein or Mitchell Robinson will always be on the court. Coach Thibs loves his centers. He’s a proud size queen. We understand this. Especially against Joel Embiid.

But Josh Hart and OG Anunoby playing hot potato as both men look terrified turns the Knicks offense into a local YMCA open-run team.

At one point in the 3rd quarter, Jalen Brunson brought the ball up the court and started the possession with a pass to Josh Hart. New York scored 0 points running the ‘We gotta get the ball in Josh Hart’s hands’ play, believe it or not.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING THE OFFENSE THROUGH JOSH HART?!

Josh needs his touches??? What are we doing here?

And it doesn’t even make sense for this particular matchup to have Hart and OG out there at the same time. Deuce McBride’s ability to slow down Tyrese Maxey and his willingness to put the ball on the floor and make something shake on offense should make him far more valuable than the Hart/Anunoby lineup of fear.

Perhaps this will all come down to coaching. How well can Nick Nurse hide Joel Embiid’s handicap? Can Tom Thibodeau make the correct adjustments and not get married to lineups that worked in the regular season against 28 teams that weren’t the Philadelphia 76ers?

Knicks in 3.

Random Stray Thoughts:

Playoff Mitchell Robinson is a real thing. Last season, Robinson had an 18 rebound game against Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to eliminate the Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games. In Knicks Sixers Game 1, Mitch singlehandedly put Joel Embiid in handcuffs.
Here’s Bojan Bogdanovic in his post-game interview:

“In the playoffs, there’s no first and second unit. If you want to win the series, we all have to be ready.”

– Bojan Bogdanovic on the Knicks’ reserves pic.twitter.com/hAFI7wmz2P

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 21, 2024

My man is dressed like he just killed John Wick’s new dog while dropping lines like “there is no first and second unit in the playoffs”. 13 points, three 3-pointers, and 7 rebounds off the bench. THIS TEAM ISNT LOSING TO CAM PAYNE AND BUDDY HIELD.

Who do y’all think is winning this series? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee. Let me know if you think the Sixers are making it to round two so I can SWAT your home.