zaz102 wrote:Knicks were definitely the better team. Outside our #2 guy (Maxey) being better than their #2 guy (Hart ot OG?).FireMorey wrote:Ferry Avenue wrote:The series odds were even at the start despite that the Knicks had homecourt advantage, which suggests the Sixers were viewed generally as the more talented team.
They were wrong. The Knicks have more good players than the Sixers do.
I personally would call Brunson and hobbled Embiid a wash. Embiid's defensive presence makes up for the difference between them on offense.
I just wanted to give my 2 cents on this, having watched the series.
It was damn close. 4 of the 6 games went down to the final minute. Only 2 games looked like there was a clear winner. This was about the closest series I've ever seen.
So, saying NY had the better team? I don't know. Embiid is a special player. I hate him, but he's gifted. Maxey went Jimmy Butler on us a couple games and Reggie Miller on us once. Very good player. 2 dangerous offensive weapons against NY's one.
NY has 2 centers, who bothered Cleveland last year and bothered Embiid this year. And NY has super-role players in Josh Hart and OG Anunoby. The types of players that good teams love to have. Though if Hart had made his free throws, you'd have never won game 5, and Hart had that 0 for 7 game. but he's still good, just a little clunky on offense sometimes. Best rebounding 6'4 guy since Charles Barkley.
Does that mix of players make NY the better team? I can see that argument on paper, but I don't know. The teams looked very even to me on the court. Even enough where either team could have won. Usually in playoff matchups, one team comes out looking better. I didn't see that this series.
And your team was on pace for like 65-67 wins when Embiid played, so again, I'm not convinced NY was better, especially without Randall. We're better with players 3-6 certainly, but better overall . . . I'm not convinced.
Finally, I'd be happy to avoid this matchup next year. This was a hard series to watch and playing your team kinda sucks.