Paul Reed likes his chances in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Not only did the Philadelphia 76ers dodge the juggernaut that is Boston, but they’ll also play an “easier” New York Knicks team. The No. 2 Knicks will host the No. 7 76ers in a seven-game series starting on Saturday.
Philadelphia barely reached this point after overcoming a 14-point deficit against the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament. They won 105-104, thanks in part to some heroics from Nicolas Batum, to secure the No. 7 seed after a 47-35 regular season record.
The Knicks finished the regular season with a 50-32 record despite sustaining multiple injuries to key players.
Here are Reed’s full comments and how the two teams match up in the first round.
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Reed made sure listeners knew he wasn’t afraid of the Knicks when he joined FanDuel Sports’ “Run It Back” with Shams Charania, Chandler Parsons, Lou Williams, and Michelle Beadle on Thursday.
“We ain’t ducking no smoke, but yeah, we wanted the Knicks matchup, of course. That’s the easier team I guess,” Reed said. “But you know it’s going to be fun, we match up pretty well. They got a great guard, we got a great guard, we also got Joel, MVP, so like you said earlier, he’s one of the most unstoppable guys in the league right now. They’re gonna have to send triple teams, and he’s gonna get everybody else involved.”
Not only did Reed admit the 76ers wanted the Knicks’ matchup, but he was relieved to not have to play the Celtics. The Celtics dominated the Eastern Conference en route to the NBA’s best record of 64-18.
The Celtics will play the winner of No. 8 Heat/No. 9 Bulls in the first round of the playoffs.
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Reed mentioned that the No. 7 76ers match up well against the No. 2 Knicks, citing guard play and Joel Embiid.
Jalen Brunson is unquestionably the Knicks’ top guy, and he’s surrounded by a handful of solid role players, led by O.G. Anunoby and Donte DiVincenzo. New York will be without All-Star Julius Randle, who’s been sidelined with a shoulder injury since late January.
Likewise, Mitchell Robinson has been out for most of the year due to an ankle injury. He returned for 10 games at the end of the season, backing up Isaiah Hartenstein.
Brunson and Tyrese Maxey match up at point guard. As Reed said, both squads have excellent floor generals, but Brunson’s play down the stretch has been MVP-caliber.
It’s likely that a rotation of Anunoby, DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart will guard Maxey rather than isolating Brunson there.
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The 76ers, of course, have the reigning MVP, but Joel Embiidi still isn’t 100-percent healthy. He was seen nursing his knee pregame before taking on the Heat in the Play-In Tournament. Regardless of how healthy Embiid is, he’ll be an issue for the Knicks.
New York does boast one of the best center duos in Hartenstein and Robinson, but Robinson hasn’t quite returned to full form.
The Knicks’ wings outclass the 76ers by a wide margin unless Batum recreates his Play-In Tournament performance and Kelly Oubre Jr. shows out. Anunoby, DiVincenzo, and Hart have provided the Knicks will consistent production alongside Brunson.
