The 2023-24 NBA season officially came to an end for the Golden State Warriors this week. They lost to the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Play-In Tournament, ending their season earlier than anyone would have hoped for.
While Stephen Curry admitted that it may be hard for him to tune in for the NBA Playoffs this season, his teammate Draymond Green has already gotten his analyst hat on. Green, who hosts a podcast, wasted no time diving into analysis for the rest of the teams who remain alive in the playoffs.
One of the series that people are most interested in is between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. It is expected to be a close one, as oddsmakers have installed the Knicks as slight underdogs in the series despite being the No. 2 seed.
There has only been one other instance that which a No. 2 seed has been listed as an underdog against a No. 7 seed. It was in 2021, when the Phoenix Suns were underdogs against the Los Angeles Lakers but won the series in six games.
The Knicks are certainly hoping they have a similar result this time around. The 76ers are as good of a No. 7 seed as we have ever seen in the history of the NBA Playoffs. Had Joel Embiid not missed two months with a knee injury, they likely would be much higher in the standings.
With him back in the lineup, Philadelphia is a dangerous team. His presence is a big reason that Green believes that the 76ers are going to prevail over the Knicks in their first-round matchup. Green thinks Embiid will be unstoppable and lead his team to victory.
That is certainly a hot take from the Warriors star. In the one regular-season meeting between the Knicks and 76ers which Embiid played in, New York won 128-92 despite Embiid scoring 30 points and Tyrese Maxey adding 27.
Julius Randle, who will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his shoulder, was in the lineup for the Knicks but was a non-factor. He scored only eight points, going 1-of-11 from the field.
There isn’t a team in the NBA that has a better depth chart at the center position than the Knicks. Having to go against Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson for 48 minutes a game is a tall task. Beyond those two, New York can also turn to Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims for spot minutes.
This matchup isn’t going to be the cakewalk for Embiid that many people believe it will be. He still doesn’t look 100 percent healthy, something the Knicks can exploit on offense. New York has also shown they can put together a game plan to find success even if the opposing center is having a big game.
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