The New York Knicks create the next statement win at the start of the conference semifinals against Philadelphia. The Knicks have played themselves into the role of the top favorite in the East and have ambitions of the long-awaited entry into the NBA Finals underpinned.
Led by their superstar Jalen Brunson, the Knicks took on Game One of the best-of-seven series Philadelphia 76ers a confident 137:98 victory. The game in Madison Square Garden was basically already decided at half time. Director Brunson had given the guests 27 of his 35 points after just two quarters, for a 23-point halftime lead. The German center Ariel Hukporti also excelled, scoring five points and a strong nine rebounds.
Knicks with playoff record – third big win in a row
For the Knicks, it was the fourth success in a row in this year’s playoffs and the next big victory: New York has won the last four games by a total of 135 points, which corresponds to an average of 33 points per game. According to NBA statistics, they are also the first team to win three playoff games in a row by more than 25 points each.
As usual, a lot of celebrities watched the confident opening victory of the series in Madison Square Garden: young Hollywood star Timothee Chalamet even skipped the Met Gala, which had been hyped for days, for the game against the 76ers, as the “New York Post” reported. Chalamet has recently strengthened the star line-up in row one, alongside the established ones A-list fans like Tina Fey, Ben Stiller and Spike Lee, who has been sitting in row one at games for ages and has long been part of the club’s inventory – including legendary trash talk duels with Indiana’s Reggie Miller in the 1990s.
The Knicks long for the NBA title
The Knicks have been waiting even longer for an NBA title; they last won the championship in 1973. Last year the Knicks were once again stopped on the way to the finals by their old rivals from Indiana. But those Pacers are out of the running just like them Boston Celticsthe record champions were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Philadelphia. The path in the Eastern Conference seems to be free for the Knicks, the chance of making it to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 is greater than ever.
Club owner James Dolan announced the conference title as a must-win goal in a radio interview at the beginning of the year. That’s not all: the squad is strong enough to win the NBA title. According to the Knicks boss, if the team reaches the finals, then they should win.
Another early exit would probably mean a comprehensive renovation of the expensive squad. “We don’t even bother with this question.”said coach Mike Brown before the start of the playoffs to the “New York Times“: “Everyone in the locker room has a will to win that I’ve never experienced before. We don’t take anything for granted. We’re here to win the title.”
Knicks offense also rolls in the playoffs
The Knicks have apparently taken their good form from the regular season with 53 wins, the best record in the past ten years, into the postseason. The Knicks impress with a well-rehearsed and, above all, very efficient offense: OG Anunoby only needed eight attempts from the field for his 18 points. Overall, the Knicks had an excellent hit rate of 63 percent from the game and sank 51 percent of their three-point throws into the basket. But also in defense, traditionally a decisive factor for a title contender, the Knicks are one of the three teams with the best in the playoffs so far.”Defensive rating“. This statistic records how many points a team allows on average when the opponent attacks.
Joel Embiid tells Sixers fans: “We need you”
The Knicks are also the clear favorites against the 76ers. With a win in game two, also at Madison Square Garden, New York could travel to Philadelphia with a comforting 2-0 lead. Even before the start of the series, people were worried about home advantage: The Knicks have a lot of fans, and it’s less than a two-hour drive from New York to Philadelphia. 76ers leader Joel Embiid recalled the playoff series two years ago. That’s what the game in Philadelphia felt like back then,”like we were in Madison Square Garden East”said Embiid. Philly’s “Big Man” appealed to fans not to sell their tickets to Knicks fans. “We need you, we need your support.”
