The series returns to Philly with the Sixers needing two more wins to pull off the improbable.
For the neutral observer, the first-round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks has been incredible entertainment. Every game has been close, often coming down to the final minute, with thrilling comebacks on each side. Quantitatively, it’s been one of the best playoffs series to watch in a generation.
For the 411 NBA playoff series played since 1996, here’s how Sixers-Knicks stacks up so far:
Average excitement index: #3
Average comeback factor: #1
Average tension index: #11That’s about as good as you can get. The closest rival is probably 2014 POR-HOU. https://t.co/wnvOcPFgO6
— Mike Beuoy (@inpredict) May 1, 2024
Of course, we aren’t neutral observers here, and the last week and a half have been excruciating. We’ve watched the Sixers give up more offensive rebounds than previously thought humanly possible, go ice cold shooting, make boneheaded turnovers, miss bunnies at the rim, and lose a Game 2 that was in the bag through a combination of officiating malpractice and a pure sense of panic.
HOWEVER, those feelings have been washed away thanks to 46 points, including seven especially miraculous ones, from Tyrese Maxey. A Sixers team that was dead in the water with under 30 seconds left at the Garden has been given a new lease on life. Only 13 NBA teams have ever come back from a 3-1 deficit, but we have to work with the new information we now have, and how many teams have come back from down 3-2? 55, or 16.0 percent, including the Boston Celtics against these Sixers just last year. So the odds are slowly getting better for Philadelphia, and with their status as 3-point favorites tonight, who knows?
Looking towards this evening (at 9:00pm ET, come on, NBA, have a heart for the washed among us), what lies in store? Will Tyrese Maxey continue to rain down destruction from everyone on the court? What will Joel Embiid’s body allow him to do, and will he look more like the Game 3 Joel that dropped 50 points or Game 5 Joel that was equal parts helpful and hurtful until shifting back into being a bona fide stud in overtime? Can Tobias Harris string two good performances together? Will either head coach look to someone new to provide fresh legs and a spark after a bunch of regulars played around 50 minutes on Tuesday night? (This is the point when the Ricky Council IV stans are nodding along vigorously.)
Hopefully, whatever happens will be watched live by a vast majority of Philadelphia fans, as opposed to the Knicks fan arena takeover we saw in Games 3 and 4. Ownership buying up tickets on the secondary market to distribute to first responder Sixers fans is certainly a great step towards that happening. Seeing a bunch of New Yorkers celebrate a series win in the bowels of The Center is not something I want to witness. Now, seeing them having to slog back up to North Jersey and the five boroughs with their heads down after seeing the series get tied up, that, I could live with.
I honestly don’t know what to expect tonight, other than that the game will almost certainly be close and we’ll have a half dozen heart attacks along the way. Everything about the crazy nature of this series, though, has screamed that it’s going seven games. I’d be more than happy to see that result play out (if I can stay awake, seriously, 9:00pm start).
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
When: 9:00 pm ET
Where: The Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: TNT/TruTV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
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