There may not be a team in the NBA that has as strong of an identity as the New York Knicks. When facing off against them, you know exactly what they are bringing to the table in terms of game plan and effort level.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau has them more prepared than any other team in the NBA. No matter what obstacle is thrown at them, they have something in place to counter whatever it is other teams are doing.
That level of preparedness and effort in the regular season has New York prepared for the rigors of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. While other teams may not be ready to play extra minutes, the Knicks thrive in crunch time.
In their series against the Philadelphia 76ers, a different player has stepped up every night. The Knicks are up 3-1 as they have received contributions from every player who gets on the court. In Game 4, it was time for Precious Achiuwa and OG Anunoby to shine.
One of the keys to the series for New York was how well they could contain the 76ers’ star duo of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. That has been easier said than done, as Embiid poured in 50 in Game 3, leading the 76ers to victory.
A big reason for that explosion was the absence of Mitchell Robinson. Robinson hurt his right ankle earlier in Game 3 after some dirty plays by Embiid. Without him, Thibodeau turned to Achiuwa to fill his role in the lineup.
All eyes were on Achiuwa when Isaiah Hartenstein picked up his fifth foul of the game with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter. He responded in a big way, combining with Anunoby to shut down Embiid in the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Embiid shot 0-for-5 from the field with his only point coming from the foul line. He grabbed only one rebound with one assist as Achiuwa and Anunboy erased him from the game.
His performance at that end of the quarter was nothing short of elite Sunday afternoon. He used his size and athleticism to perfection, making life difficult for whoever he matched up against in the game.
As shared by KnicksMuse on X, 76ers players shot 1-of-13 with Achiuwa as the primary defender in Game 4. When matched up with Philadelphia’s two most dangerous weapons in Maxey and Embiid, Achiuwa held them to 0-for-5.
Anunoby is regarded as arguably the best defensive player in the NBA and Sunday showed why. He is capable of defending all five positions on the court, as he was the main assignment for most of the series before asking to defend Embiid.
He certainly did not disappoint. In Game 4, Embiid went 0-for-5 when Anunoby was the primary defender on him, including blocking his shot twice. It was certainly a risk given the size disadvantage Anunoby was at, but he won the matchup handily.
The Knicks were locked in defensively all game. This clip shows that, as one of the clinching plays down the stretch required everyone to buy in and be on a string. It accentuated the toughness and chemistry the team possesses.
New York was on a string with each player getting the job done. It ended with an incredible rotation from Anunoby, forcing an extra pass from Kyle Lowry, which Achiuwa ended with the emphatic blocked shot. Credit needs to be given to Jalen Brunson as well, who fought over multiple screens to delay the 76ers getting into their action.
That is the kind of stuff you cannot teach. The Knicks have players who are committed to getting the job done on the defensive end which makes them as dangerous as anyone in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
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