Escape from Philadelphia
Good morning, and Happy Sunday. Hope everyone can stay inside today. Two things before we get started…
First, Royce Weeb is still offering a 50 percent off special for KFS subscribers on his NBA newsletter 5x5, which currently features Jerry Engelmann’s newest piece breaking down the Knicks’ title chances for this season.
Second, we had a big Jake Fischer / Marc Stein news drop on Giannis and the increasing likelihood of a move happening this summer, with a mention of Portland as a third team that could help facilitate a deal due to their longstanding interest in Mikal Bridges. I’ll have some more thoughts on that tomorrow. For now, let’s celebrate this win, and the fact that we all made it to the final buzzer in one piece, albeit barely.
Knicks 112, Sixers 109
27-18 (W2); 10-12 on the road
If we zoom out, Saturday’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers might provide us with the best evidence we’ve seen all season that the New York Knicks are a legitimate title threat after all.
It also added another dollop of doubt onto the heaping list of reasons many people refuse to take them seriously.
As usual, the truth lies somewhere in between. The side you favor will ultimately depend on which one of Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde you think is the dominant personality within this group. Which way does the wind blow today, you ask? Have your heart medication nearby regardless.
Let’s start with the positives, which were present early on but which began flowing like Niagara Falls early on in the third quarter. After the Knicks did well to withstand a throwback, MVP-level performance from Joel Embiid in the first half despite some very rough 3-point shooting from two of their best marksmen, Karl-Anthony Towns (playing with a bad back) picked up his fourth foul 96 seconds after halftime. Mitchell Robinson entered the game with the Knicks down three and Sixers on pace to approach 130 points.
Over the final 10:24 of the third, New York outscored Philly 25-9 with Robinson anchoring a defense that suddenly looked impenetrable and leading an overwhelming offensive rebound brigade. Over those 10-plus minutes, the Knicks broke the Sixers’ will in a way that reminded you of the old Knicks, before they reshaped their roster and went all on on offense. The Sixers were shell-shocked, unable to understand what hit them, let alone respond in kind.
It was the sort of stretch that made you believe New York will be playing games in June after all, because there isn’t another team in the East that can match that level of two-way dominance.
As if that wasn’t enough, they reprised that level of play in the closing minutes of the fourth. After the Sixers used an 12-0 run to cut the lead to five, some big time moments from Mitch, OG Anunoby and the again indispensable Landry Shamet put them up eight with 41 seconds remaining. The grit and toughness in the face of adversity had returned after an extended New Year’s vacation. This would unequivocally go down as one of the best wins of the year.
If only.
