The NBA regular season has concluded and the postseason is officially underway! This Eastern Conference playoff series features a matchup between the #7 Philadelphia 76ers and the #2 New York Knicks. The winner of this series will have their sights set on a second-round matchup against the Bucks or Pacers.
Before Betting on 76ers vs Knicks
The 76ers enter this series on a 9-game winning streak, looking much more intimidating than its position as the 7-seed in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia’s success hinges on the health of star C Joel Embiid, who recently returned to action, but isn’t quite at 100% yet. If Embiid plays and is not limited by his injury, the 76ers are more than capable of pulling off the first-ronnd upset.
On the other hand, the 76ers would face a mountainous task without him. The Knicks have several above average on-ball defenders, which will make things difficult for Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris. Without Embiid’s presence in the paint, they’ll likely lose the rebounding battle as well. Ultimately, Philadelphia needs to find a way to overcome poor regular season results against the Knicks.
The Knicks surged into the Eastern Conference’s 2-seed, and enter this series on a winning streak of their own. Jalen Brunson was truly sensational down the stretch of the regular season, averaging nearly 40 points per game over the past two weeks. New York has also gotten a massive boost from the improved play of Josh Hart, who ranks 5th in the NBA in total triple doubles.
Meanwhile, the Knicks will be relying heavily on their bench to ease the load for Brunson and the rest of the banged-up starting five. With Bojan Bogdonavić dealing with a wrist injury and Mitchell Robinson still ramping up, a lot of that reliance will fall on Deuce McBride and Precious Achuiwa. New York’s depth, defense, and chemistry will be contributing factors if they advance to the second round.
76ers vs Knicks Offshore Odds
It’s a bit odd to see the 7-seed favored in a series over the 2-seed, but it makes sense considering the 76ers lost a ton of ground when Joel Embiid was out. That being said, the Knicks lost Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, among others, for an extended period of time. Their ability to tread water during that stretch shows how much deeper the bench is. The Knicks should advance to the second round.
