The New York Knicks are in Philadelphia on Tuesday night to take on the Sixers, and they look to have a bit more in store for them as All-Star center Joel Embiid is set to make his season debut for the team.
In what would normally be a hostile environment for the Knicks, the scene is looking like it may be even more raucous as the fans have been anticipating Embiid’s return. Coupled with Paul George, this will be as close to the best lineup the Sixers will have on the floor all season despite being without All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who’s still out with a hamstring injury.
Sixers game information
Who: New York Knicks (4-5) at Philadelphia 76ers (2-7)
When: 7:30 pm EST
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: TNT
Latest on the Sixers
While the team will not be at 100% strength for the night, the anticipated return of Joel Embiid changes the whole outlook for the team. Originally, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey were thought to be teaming up with free agent signee Paul George to give the Sixers one of the top starting trios in the league.
Embiid and George missed the time to start the season, which impacted the Sixers enough, but now the team is without Maxey, who suffered a hamstring injury last week, for at least the next two weeks. Even still, the duo of George and Embiid should be enough, as it was last year with Embiid and Maxey, to put the Sixers back in the conversation for one of the top teams in the conference.
The Embiid saga to start the season has been great for talk radio and reporters but has been too much for the fans. Without Embiid, the Sixers stumbled out of the gate and are currently 12th in the conference, at the bottom with teams like the Wizards, Raptors, and, surprisingly, the Milwaukee Bucks. Embiid immediately changes that, and despite the record, a healthy Embiid makes the team completely different. The key for the team will be to keep Embiid healthy throughout the season and into the playoffs.
With Maxey out, the Sixers may use rookie Jared McCain more than they had anticipated, but McCain has begun to show off who he can be as a player. With Maxey out, McCain tied his season and career high in minutes with thirty-one and had a career-high in points with twenty-seven. More importantly, McCain shot 55.6% from the floor, and despite a slow start, he has been shooting 40% on his three-point attempts over the last five games.
As he’s seen more time on the floor, he’s become increasingly more comfortable and aggressive. He’s averaging 10.2 points per game on the season but 22.5 over his last two games as Maxey has dealt with the injury. McCain, like Maxey, could be another huge draft-day steal for the Sixers.
The interesting player for the Sixers to combine with Embiid will be Guerschon Yabusele, who’s also seen an uptick in his minutes the past two games and has responded with 17 points and 6.5 rebounds over the last two games in 27 minutes per contest.
Yabusele may be just what the Sixers have needed in a true power forward to pair with Embiid. The combination of them both on the floor will free up Paul George, McCain, Kyle Lowry, and Kelly Oubre Jr. for more open shots and freedom on the floor. While Oubre Jr. and Caleb Martin look to start at the forward spots, Yabusele should get some time on the floor with Embiid to see what coach Nick Nurse has in the duo.
Latest on the Knicks
The Knicks reloaded a team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns during the off-season after having brought in OG Anunoby at the trade deadline last year. The Knicks were going all in to get past the Celtics and have brought in as much firepower as they thought they needed to get over that hump.
To start the season, it hasn’t worked out as they had planned, as the Knicks are currently in 6th place in the Eastern Conference and below .500 to start the year. For the team, it’s a learning period with the new players coming in, and they’re not going to worry. Much like the Sixers, they’re looking at having their full arsenal together for a deep playoff run.
Brunson, Towns, and Anunoby are off to a very good start for the team, not only due to their scoring but also because they’re all shooting over 45% from the floor and over 40% on their three-point attempts.
Any team that can put a trio like that on the floor isn’t to be taken lightly, and the Knicks get even deeper beyond that. Mikel Bridges, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride are all averaging in double figures on the young season and shooting well from the floor as well. With the second trio, only McBride is over 40% on his three-point attempts, while Bridges is shooting 29% and Hart is at 31.6%, which isn’t acceptable for the team’s success.
The problem with going “all in” during the off-season has left the Knicks a little light after the top six players that they have. Cam Payne is currently the next “quality” player that the team has on the roster and despite the energy he brings to the floor and team, Payne isn’t going to be lighting up opposing teams. The Knicks have to be careful to avoid injuries as McBride is listed as questionable for tonight’s game with knee inflammation, and the team will already be without Payne and Precious Achiuwa. Miles McBride is also listed as questionable. The Knicks will need every bit of effort from their starters if they’re to stop the Sixers tonight.
What to watch for
The return of Joel Embiid.
For the Sixers, that sums up what they need and what the team has been waiting for. As Embiid dealt with some issues to start the season, he was suspended for three games just when it seemed like he was ready to return.
The key is having a healthy Embiid on the court as much as possible for the remainder of the season and, hopefully, the playoffs. The Sixers think that they have a good plan to manage his usage during the season, and Embiid doesn’t seem to be looking for awards or accolades. What, from his demeanor and comments, he is looking for is a championship, and this year’s squad, when healthy, looks to be the best chance of his career so far.
Without Maxey, whose penetration and skill have made him one of the better young stars in the league, the Sixers would seem very shorthanded, but the emergence, the past two games, of McCain should ease some of those concerns, and if the rookie can keep up what he’s been doing, while also getting used to playing with George and Embiid, that’ll add to the Sixers depth. Having McCain, along with Oubre, Caleb Martin, Yabusele, and KJ Martin, gives the Sixers some depth that they haven’t had in the past few seasons.
For tonight, look for Embiid to reassert his league-wide dominance and make a statement for the team, its fans, and the league that he’s not to be taken lightly this season. For all of the injuries and issues that Embiid has faced when he’s on the court, there aren’t many players that can do what he can do on a nightly basis. This year, he’s looking to do even more.
Prediction
Sixers 127 – Knicks 108
