New York Knicks big man Isaiah Hartenstein will be getting the difficult assignment of trying to slow down Joel Embiid in the first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Hartenstein was asked during his press conference about how the Knicks will defend Embiid and he stated they have to be aware of him trying to get fouls.
"He's going to seek fouls, so I think that's the main thing," Hartenstein said. "Through fouls, he'll get his little breaks, easy free throws, so that's probably the main focus, is not really letting him to the line and going from there."
"Knowing at the end of the day he's the MVP, so he's going to get some calls that maybe don't go in your favor," Hartenstein stated. "It's really just doing your job, playing team defense, and don't really put your hands in because he's going to try to get it in him. It's smart from him, I mean why not use it? I'm not saying it's bad, if he's smart enough to do it and we keep doing it, then that's kinda on us."
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Hartenstein says the Knicks have to be smart enough to not allow Embiid to deploy his usual tricks to get fouls. He understands the reigning MVP will get some calls regardless, but wants the Knicks to remain disciplined.
I am sure that has been the message in most locker rooms before games against Embiid. The seven-time All-Star still managed to get to the line on a consistent basis, as he averaged a league-high 11.7 free throws per game.
The Knicks themselves could not keep Embiid away from the line in the only game he played against them this season. When the two teams met on Jan. 5, he went 9-12 from the line to finish the game with 30 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks.
What the Knicks did manage to do that night, though, was win. They crushed the 76ers 128-92 in what was the worst defeat of the campaign for Philadelphia. While they couldn't prevent Embiid from getting over 10 free throws, their defense limited the 76ers to just 40.7% shooting from the field.
The Knicks would be hoping to stifle that 76ers offense in a similar fashion in this upcoming series as well. If they do that, it wouldn't matter how many free throws Embiid ends up getting.
Joel Embiid Was Called Out For Flopping Against The Heat
Embiid and the 76ers set up this first-round clash by beating the Miami Heat in the NBA Play-In Tournament. The 30-year-old didn't play all that well in that game, however, and received a fair bit of criticism for flopping too.
In the first quarter, he also went down on his knees after a free throw and was mocked for flopping.
This free throw aside, Embiid certainly doesn't help himself with some of these antics. He is a great player, but we have seen him resort to this a fair few times by now and that reputation will stick with him for the rest of his career.
While there is nothing really that Embiid can do to change that now, what he can change is the narrative about him not stepping up in the postseason. He has yet to even make it to the Eastern Conference Finals in his career and would be hoping this is the year he at least makes it that far.
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