Knicks get true test against 76ers to see if they’re really out of funk
NY Post
Beating up on the Nets was a good way to lift the vibes around the Knicks, if at least for a few days.
But now comes a big step up in quality of opponent.
This matchup with the 76ers — against whom they are 0-2 this year — in Philadelphia on Saturday will be a much truer test of whether the Knicks have climbed out of their downturn.
“It’s gonna be a challenge,” Josh Hart said after practice Friday, “but we need challenges right now. … We had a stretch where we were struggling. Obviously, we had a really good win the other day [against the Nets]. And now it’s like, feeling good but you can’t be feeling too good. Tough opponent where you gotta go in there and do the little things. And then if you beat a good team like that, then you can feel a little better about yourself.”
The Knicks have been torched by the 76ers’ explosive backcourt of Tyrese Maxey, a budding superstar in the league and All-Star starter, and VJ Edgecombe, who’s enjoying a strong rookie season. Those two represent exactly what the Knicks struggle with most — defending quick, athletic guards — who can both beat opponents off the dribble and hurt defenses from 3-point range at the point of- attack.
Maxey and Edgecombe scored 30 and 23 points, respectively, in the first matchup of the year — a 116-107 Knicks loss Dec. 19. They scored 36 and 26 points, respectively, in the second matchup — a 130-119 loss Jan. 3. And between the two games, they combined to shoot 56.3 percent from the field and 52.8 percent from 3-point range.
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