The Sixers are coming, and this time they mean business

The second round is here. The Knicks got their opponent, and it’s not exactly an easy one – even if the seeding might suggest otherwise. The Philadelphia 76ers, seeded 7th, just did something absolutely wild: they came back from 3-1 down against the Boston Celtics and knocked them out in 7 games, closing it out on the road in what was one of the most stunning first round upsets you’ll see in recent playoff memory. And now they’re rolling into this second round matchup with some serious chip on their shoulder, looking to get revenge for that 4-2 loss to the Knicks two years ago in the first round.

Let’s start with the good news. The Knicks, as the 3 seed, keep home court advantage throughout this series. Madison Square Garden will be rocking, and that matters more than people sometimes give credit for in a playoff setting. But here’s the thing that makes this even more interesting – Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia is going to be absolutely packed with Knicks fans too for the away games. It’s become a bit of a tradition at this point, Knicks fans traveling and making noise in opposing buildings, and it’s something that genuinely gets under the skin of home crowds and home teams alike.

Now for the not-so-great part. The Sixers are not the same beaten-down team they looked like when they were trailing 3-1. They just went into Boston, into a hostile TD Garden, and won a decisive Game 7. That kind of win does something to a team’s confidence – it pumps up the ego in a big way, and carrying that momentum into a new series is a real thing.

The question everyone should be asking is whether they can sustain that energy against a Knicks team that had their own relatively comfortable close-out in Game 6 against Atlanta. Will Philadelphia keep riding that wave, or will the reality of facing a deeper, more physical Knicks squad eventually set in?

So what should we actually expect from this series?

The biggest concern, the one that should be keeping Mike Brown up at night, is Joel Embiid. Karl-Anthony Towns is going to have one of his toughest assignments of the season trying to contain him, and it won’t just be on KAT – the whole team will need to rotate, double, and keep him working defensively.

Foul trouble could become a major storyline here. Embiid is one of the best in the business at drawing fouls, getting to the line, and inflating his numbers from the charity stripe. If Towns picks up two quick fouls in the first quarter of any given game, that changes everything about how the Knicks can defend their paint.

What makes it more interesting though is the Mitchell Robinson factor. Robinson has historically defended Embiid really well, and there’s genuine history between those two – not exactly a friendly rivalry. That kind of personal edge can be a real motivator, and Robinson showing up ready to be a problem for Embiid physically could be a game-changer for this series.

The question around Embiid more broadly is his health. He played in just 38 regular season games this year, and while reports suggest the knee is in good shape, a deep playoff run is a completely different animal. Can he hold up game after game at the level he needs to?

On the perimeter, Tyrese Maxey is the guy to watch. He’s been phenomenal all year, and the first round was no different. Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson had real trouble with CJ McCollum in the early games of the Atlanta series before adjustments were made – but Maxey is a different beast, he’s faster, more explosive, and harder to pin down.

Josh Hart could get a crack at him but honestly, the better option here is Mikal Bridges, assuming he brings the kind of consistent defensive energy that he’s capable of. Bridges containing Maxey over a full series would be one of the keys to the Knicks winning this thing.

Both of these teams love to play fast. Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are explosive in transition, and the Sixers will absolutely try to push the pace wherever they can. But here’s the thing – a fast game doesn’t necessarily hurt the Knicks. OG Anunoby, Brunson, Bridges, Jose Alvarado – these are guys who thrive in those open floor situations too. If anything, the Knicks might actually welcome the pace. Where it gets dangerous is turnovers. One sloppy pass in transition becomes two points the other way instantly, and in a tight playoff series those swings add up fast. The Knicks should be the better rebounding team in this matchup, and that’s a real advantage if they can control the glass consistently.

Prediction? Knicks in 6. Same as the last time these two met. Game 1 is tonight, and it should be a good one.