I didn’t think the Knicks were going to beat Philly in Game 6. I should’ve known better than to doubt them.
I knew Philly would make a run after the Knicks got off to a fast start, building a 22-point lead in the 1st quarter. That lead quickly turned into a 10-point deficit early in the 3rd quarter.
All I could think of was how much would be on the line in a possible Game 7 with the Knicks facing one of the biggest collapses in recent memory.
I should’ve known better than to doubt them. There would be no Game 7.
I felt like Philly was the more talented team throughout the series, things just seemed to be easier for them than the Knicks. But the Knicks don’t believe in easy.
They play hard and outwork teams. They crash the offensive boards and never take a break on defense. They throw their bodies on the floor. They go all out to win every game, no matter if it’s a random game in November or Game 6 of a playoff series. They only know one speed.
That’s why New York has fallen in love with this team.
Their best player is the smallest guy on the court. Guys like Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo get every bit out of the talent they have. That goes for most of these Knicks. It’s an easy team to root for.
Philly had 2 of the 3 best players in the series. Their stars, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, played well. Almost every game went right down to the wire. The Knicks came out on top because they always seem to find a way.
At times in Game 6 it felt like Philly was going to run away with it. The Knicks never let them. It culminated in a Josh Hart three to give the Knicks the lead for good. A guy not known for his shooting, making a huge shot.
That’s the story of this Knicks team. Guys making plays when they need to.
Tom Thibodeau deserves a lot of credit. It’s obvious this Knicks team is well-prepared. Thibodeau has gotten the most out of the talent he has to work with. Let’s not forget the Knicks are missing an All-Star and All-NBA player in Julius Randle.
Thibodeau and the Knicks learned from their mistakes in Game 5. They fouled in Game 6 before Philly could get off a 3 point shot. Thibodeau also made needed adjustments to slow down Embiid and Maxey. He switched up coverages on Embiid and put DiVincenzo on Maxey in Game 6 to great success.
Now the Knicks will play a second round series in consecutive years for the first time since 1999-2000. This is the best shape the franchise has been in for 25 years.
Their second round opponent will be the Indiana Pacers, a familiar foe for those 90s Knicks teams.
Not to sound too overconfident, but Indy should be a much easier series than Philly. Defending Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam should be easier than defending Embiid and Maxey.
The one concern I have is the pace Indy plays with, the fastest in the NBA. The Knicks were running a 7 man rotation at the end of the Philly series, they’ll be exhausted quickly against Indy if that continues.
Indy has a deep bench, old friend Obi Toppin included. They will run non-stop.
I hope Thibodeau extends the rotation and plays Precious Achiuwa and even Alec Burks, at least to start the series.
Indy had a lot of sucess against the Knicks in the regular season, but they never faced the Knicks with OG Anunoby in the lineup, things should be different this time around.
The Knicks are the better team and should be able to beat Indy in 5 or 6 games.
I know better than to doubt this Knicks team.
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