To say that these sets of matchups in the east this year are still quite interesting. Except for the Magic and Cavaliers, which have the least suspense, and the Celtics vs. the Heat, everyone will not think about the rest of the matchups before the start of the game, especially the Knicks vs. the 76ers. Now there have been two games between the 76ers and the Knicks, and everyone has seen these two games, which can be said to be the same plot, both of which were won by the Knicks at the last moment of the game, and the 76ers just couldn't keep the lead, and they couldn't be more abstract. In fact, this is the playoffs, especially the second game, which makes people really slap their thighs. Then as far as the second game is concerned, there are also a lot of points of analysis.
In terms of the game, the 76ers still had adjustments in the second game and led for a lot of time, but they just couldn't withstand the impact of the Knicks at the end. If you want to talk about the performance of the two core players of the 76ers, it is basically reasonable. Maxey hit 12 of 22 shots and got 35 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, and in fact, he has done everything that needs to be done, and you can't ask Maxey to do more. As for Embiid's side, he played with an injury and got 34 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, which is okay overall. If you follow the previous rhythm, 35 points + 34 points + 16 assists, when the core players get this data, there is no problem in the game, but the team just loses.
As the so-called heroes can't stand the crowd, the 76ers focus on Embiid + Maxey, and the Knicks focus on the starting 5-man group and endless scrambles. You can look at the Knicks' starting five, Brunson, despite being a blacksmith, kept the team's basic handicap and scored 24 points. DiVincenzo contributed 19 points, plus a key three-pointer. Hart had 21 points and 15 rebounds, and his defensive contribution was also quite large. Anunoby had 10 points and 4 rebounds, and Harden had 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks, and the defensive end was quite top. In addition, Thibodeau is also ruthless, directly rotating the main players to full playing time, and Hart even worked for 48 minutes, which can be said to have completely squeezed out the main forces.
It seems that the Knicks won both games very dramatically, but if you look at the essence through the phenomenon, it is actually the 76ers team that will be exposed as soon as it reaches the playoffs, and at a deeper level, it is Embiid's attribute problem. In the past, the 76ers were able to break through the first round, but the opponent was not very tough. When they meet a team with a little bit of strength, the 76ers will be deflated. The reason why the 76ers are deflated is also obvious, on the one hand, because Embiid was injured as soon as he arrived in the playoffs, and this has been the case for several seasons in a row, and on the other hand, Embiid can't play tough games at all, and he is not as good as the veteran Lowry. As soon as the playoffs arrived, the familiar Embiid returned. Take the chaotic battle in the final moments of G2 as an example, Embiid acted as a spectator on the sidelines, and was continuously hit by the Knicks for rebounding in the frontcourt.
In fact, when the series is at this stage, the 76ers have little room for adjustment, after all, their routines are well known to everyone, and Embiid's injury is also a hidden danger. I have to say that Harden made the right choice and chose to leave Embiid. Maybe that's how Embiid is, he can't get everyone's approval in the playoffs, and he's basically a regular-season type player. In addition, Embiid may not really be the core of the team, but he is more suitable to be the second child of the team.