Knicks fans want Boston. They want the rivalry. They want the revenge. But wanting something and needing something are two very different things. If the New York Knicks are thinking clearly tonight, they should be rooting hard for Philadelphia to pull off that Game 7 upset. Here’s why.
Home Court Changes Everything
The Knicks finished as the No. 3 seed this season. That means if Boston advances, the Celtics get home court in the second round, not New York. If Philadelphia wins tonight, the Knicks play Games 1 and 2 at Madison Square Garden.
That is not a small thing. MSG is a secret weapon for the Knicks. The Knicks went 30-10 at home this season and a shaky 23-19 on the road. This is a team that feeds off its crowd, off its energy, off its building. Giving that away before the series even starts is a real and unnecessary disadvantage.
Boston Is Built to Blow You Out
GettySmart Knicks Fans Are Rooting for Philadelphia Tonight
If we dig deeper, here is the honest truth about the Celtics: on any given night, they can make this series completely unwinnable. Boston averaged 41.8 three-point attempts per game this season, fourth in the entire NBA.
When they get hot from deep, you are not coming back. One quarter where Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Payton Pritchard are all firing, and a 20-point lead disappears before halftime.
The 76ers don’t carry that same terrifying ceiling. Philadelphia runs their offense through Joel Embiid in the post and Tyrese Maxey in pick-and-roll. Both are manageable problems for this Knicks defense. A fully-hot Celtics offense is not.
Embiid Is Not Fully Healthy
GettyJoel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers
Let’s be direct. Joel Embiid has never reached a Conference Finals in his entire career. Not once. And right now, he is not playing at full health. Paul George’s body has been unreliable for two straight seasons. These are two aging stars who could genuinely break down by Game 4 of a second-round series.
If either one goes down, the Knicks could close this out in five games with fresh legs heading into Round 3. That rest advantage matters enormously in a deep playoff run.
The Smart Play Is Clear
GettyJalen Brunson #11 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks
Jaylen Brunson cooked the Sixers two years ago in the playoffs and nothing about Philadelphia’s roster construction has fixed that problem. The Knicks have the size, the defense, and the matchup advantages to win that series comfortably.
The fans want the smoke. The Knicks need the win. Tonight, those are two very different things.
Why the Knicks Should Be Rooting for the 76ers Over the Celtics in Game 7