Nick Nurse and Tyrese Maxey acknowledged that a new challenge awaits the Philadelphia 76ers, in the form of the second-seeded New York Knicks, in the Eastern Conference's opening round of the NBA playoffs.
“I think they’re for real. I think they’ve earned that [second] seed, played really well and beat some good teams so we'll have our work to do here in the next couple of days to get ready for them,” Nurse said after the Sixers beat the Heat,105-104, at home to clinch the East no.7 seed on Thursday.
[ALSO READ: Embiid, Sixers rally past Heat, to see Knicks in East round 1]
Nurse expected that the Sixers-Knicks showdown will be a "physical series," adding that Philadelphia’s rugged second-half play will need to carry on to the next round.
“I think that’s the way they (Knicks) play. I didn’t think we’re near physical enough until the second half when we starting hitting people on screens and blocking out,” the 2019 champion coach added.
This will mark the first time the Knicks and Sixers will face each other in a playoff series since 1989, when New York swept that opening round matchup with Philadelphia, 3-0.
The Knicks are also the top team with the slowest pace this season at 95.9 at that will be a huge advantage in the playoffs for them since the postseason is played at a slower pace than the regular season.
Meanwhile, Maxey, who had 19 points against the Heat, seems to agree with his coach’s outlook on the Jalen Brunson-led Knicks. “They’re tough. Like you said, they start with the head of the snake, [that is] Jalen Brunson. We've got to find ways to slow him down, but thankfully we got a few people that we can throw at him,” Maxey shared in the post-game press conference.
Brunson is having a career-year so far in his first season with the Knicks, averaging 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.
But with an array of defenders like veteran Kyle Lowry, Nic Batum and even himself, Maxey knows the Sixers need to raise their level of play and physicality to win the series.
“They’re an extremely grimy team. They play hard, are physical, tough and that’s their identity. So for us to go in there and try to get W's and try to win this series, we have to match that, not just match, but overcome that and be extremely physical as well.
The Knicks went 3-1 against the Sixers during the regular season, in which three of those games came while Embiid was out. Maxey is determined to get some payback on New York when the light shines the most.
“They kicked our tail in the regular season so it's time to go out there and fight.”
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks will take place on Sunday, April 21, at 6 a.m. It will be shown via the NBA League Pass.
