"I just don't think Philly is deep enough to beat them" - Danny Green makes a big prediction for the Knicks vs. 76ers first-round series
After securing the 7th seed with a hard-fought 105-104 win against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers now gear up to face the New York Knicks in the first-round series.
With Joel Embiid back in the Philly starting lineup and Julius Randle out for the entirety of these playoffs, the Sixers are seen as heavy favorites against Tim Thibodeau's team. However, Danny Green provided a contrasting and bold prediction, citing doubts over Philly's depth off the bench.
"They (Knicks) have a lot of weapons, man," Green said. "I just don't think Philly is deep enough to beat them."
Green thinks Brunson will win the Knicks series
Danny picking the Knicks to come out victorious in this series isn't solely based on Philly's roster depth. The 3-time NBA Champ also highlighted the Knicks' defensive superiority, particularly their size and physicality. With big men like Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein limiting second-point chances and OG Anunoby's hard-nosed perimeter defending, the Knicks have plenty of tools to stifle the 76ers' offense.
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More importantly, Green's confidence in the Knicks' potential surpasses their defensive prowess. Not only did he place high expectations on Jalen Brunson to lead the team effectively, but he also highlighted the Knicks' depth in sharpshooting guards like Bojan Bogdanovic, Donte DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart, who will ensure that the Knicks maintain offensive pace and consistency.
"They got bigger guards, and they got guys that can score in half-court sets very well. Jalen Brunson, (he's) so good, he'll win you a series," Green added. "They got Donte DiVincenzo shooting well. Deuce McBride making himself a household name now."
Icy-Hot's analysis seems fitting, particularly in light of the 76ers' struggles against the Heat, a team ranked among the 10 worst offensively rated in the regular season in their Play-In Game. Meanwhile, considering how the Knicks were the 7th best offensive team in the regular season with a rating of 118.2, one could only realize the need for Nick Nurse's team to avoid a dry spell in the middle parts of games.
Philadelphia 76ers need its bench to fire
Considering Nicolas Batum's impactful performance against the Heat, where he excelled on the offensive end by scoring 20 points, including six three-pointers on 10 attempts, he needs to build on this momentum. The Frenchman can offer the much-required offensive assistance to the 76ers' starting lineup by doing so.
Alternatively, given Buddy Hield's higher turnover count than successful 3-pointers, he must step up his game to make a meaningful contribution to the scoring front. Like in any playoff series, production from each individual on the court will be crucial not only in points but in every aspect of the game, and given the history between the two franchises, we are for sure in for a treat.
