Atlantic Division rivals square off in an early-season meeting between two of the East’s top teams. This should be a great game, but which team is the winning NBA pick?
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 – 07:30 PM EDT at Madison Square Garden
Philadelphia 76ers
In spite of the off-season drama, the Sixers have started the season 2-1. The Sixers opened the season with an easy win over the Pelicans. They then dropped a tough loss to the Brooklyn Nets in which they were leading for over 44 minutes. They then traveled to Oklahoma City and again won easily against one of the weaker rosters in the league.
The Knicks will present a test as this is the best defensive team the Sixers have faced so far.
Joel Embiid is the Sixers’ best player. He leads the team in scoring and assists so far this season. This makes sense and is by design, but his teammates are going to need to step up in the playmaking category for Philadelphia to have a good chance to contend.
The Sixers will need Tyrese Maxey to step up in his playmaking role and not rely solely on Embiid to create good shots. Seth Curry has been a fantastic shooter so far and Tobias Harris can also create his own shot. Yet the Sixers need to beware of getting too complacent by playing too much isolation ball and not working within the system of the team.
The Sixers are embroiled in a season of controversy and it’s up to them whether or not they will take the tension and use it to be focused and improve, or if it will sink their season. This matchup against the Knicks will provide a great barometer of where the team really is.
New York Knicks
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau came into New York last season and turned the perennial lottery Knicks into a playoff team last season, snagging the fourth seed. The Knicks fell short however and lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Still, the optimism around this season is flying high in New York.
The Knicks took steps to improve their weaknesses, scoring and shot creation, by adding Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. Fournier has been fantastic and Walker is doing his best whilst struggling with a knee injury.
The Knicks are led by Julius Randle who is having another fantastic season. Randle is the true all-around player as he leads the team in scoring and assists. Mitchell Robinson leads the team in rebounding. Robinson has been seeing increased usage until Nerlens Noel returns from injury.
RJ Barrett is continuing his development in his third NBA season. He is averaging 12 points per game and 5 rebounds per game. Most importantly, however, he is finally looking impressive on the defensive end; an important trait if you’re trying to get minutes in Tom Thibodeau’s system.
Last year’s first-round draft pick Obi Toppin is finally starting to get some consistent playing time. Toppin is adjusting to the speed of the NBA game and figuring out how to use his athletic gifts to be effective. Keep an eye on Toppin to continuously improve towards the end of the season, and be a major factor on this Knicks squad once the playoffs start.
Key Matchup
Joel Embiid vs. Mitchell Robinson. Almost every Philadelphia 76ers game will come down to how well the opponent is able to limit Joel Embiid because there is simply no stopping him. Mitchell Robinson is a strong quick player who has the physical tools to at least hinder Embiid in his attempt to completely dominate.
If Robinson is able to hold his own in the post and the Knicks team defense can force him to pass, it will be a win for the Knicks defense and they will put themselves in a position to win the game.
If Embiid is constantly getting easy buckets in his one-on-one matchup versus Robinson, the Knicks will have a hard time keeping pace with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Best Bet
This is a very close game at the NBA odds and should be a fascinating matchup. I favor the Knicks here however as the team chemistry and home-court advantage push them over the edge. While Philadelphia is floundering in a cauldron of negativity surrounding their team situation, the Knicks are rejuvenated, excited, and their fan base is ecstatic.
The Knicks have the personnel and tenacity to slow down Joel Embiid. This is a great opportunity to show that they belong in the top tier of the East and I believe they will take advantage. Take the Knicks at one of BMR’s best sportsbooks.
NBA Pick: NY Knicks -1 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
Want another opinion on this game? Check this 76ers vs. Knicks NBA pick.
