Former Raptors teammates OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa were instrumental in the Knicks’ defensive effort during their Game 4 win over the Sixers on Sunday. They guarded Joel Embiid a majority of the time with Isaiah Hartenstein in foul trouble and Mitchell Robinson sidelined by an ankle injury.
The Knicks’ frontcourt duo also made the right reads in rotations and pick-and-rolls, SNY TV’s Ian Begley notes. “I don’t know how to (explain it),” Achiuwa said. “It’s a feel thing between me and OG. When we’re involved in a defensive action, I understand what he wants to do, we read off each other and play off each other that way. … That’s kind of what played into it.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- While Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was setting a franchise record for playoff points in a single game, Sixers counterpart Kyle Lowry only made one field goal in Game 4, Peter Botte of the New York Post notes. Lowry, an unrestricted free agent after the season, is averaging 10.5 points and 4.0 assists per game in the series.
- Offensive rebounding was a key to the Knicks’ victory on Sunday. They grabbed 15 for the game, including seven in the fourth quarter. They outscored the Sixers 21-6 on second-chance opportunities. “That’s what they do,” 76ers forward Kelly Oubre told Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. “Like I said, Jalen (Brunson) is putting up all the shots, but at the end of the day, like that’s what he’s supposed to do. And then everybody else is supposed to crash the glass like mad men.”
- Robinson is listed as questionable to play in Game 5, Tim Bontemps of ESPN tweets. Bojan Bogdanovic (foot contusion) has already been ruled out.
- Dariq Whitehead‘s rookie season with the Nets was a washout, as he underwent season-ending surgery on Jan. 29 to repair a stress reaction in his left shin. The No. 22 pick in last year’s draft, who appeared in just two NBA games, will hit the reset button with a new head coach, Jordi Fernandez, and a busy offseason. “Dariq should play in summer league, should be available in summer league. Whether or not he plays the entire summer league or not, that’ll be TBD,” GM Sean Marks said, per NetsDaily.com. “But the plan right now is he’s in the gym every day.”
It’s embarrassing and like I said Knicks players just want it more. Only way we win is if Embiid gets every call and walks to the line all game, which won’t win you a title.
The Knicks were missing their starting centre and power forward, their back up centre was in foul trouble and combo forward Bojan went down aswell and we lost the rebounding battle.
Tobias doesn’t rebound, Embiid doesn’t want to do the muscling up and boxing out he just wants free throws. Paul Reed is an undersized big, Nic Batum sits in the corners he’s not collecting boards.
Knicks going to take this series out tomorrow and Embiid will have another cry to the media about something. Josh Hart has been massive and Jalen Brunson we all knew was going to have to be that guy and he hasn’t disappointed. OG is going to have to have another big defensive game but I actually think Isiah Hartenstein is going to be huge for them in game 5
Embiid is operating at like 60 percent and you’re complaining about his rebounding.
The entitlement of Philly fans is amazing,