Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith thinks the Sixers are ‘someone to be worried about,’ and more national media reactions
After just one game, are national experts predicting a Sixers-Knicks Eastern Conference final?
The 76ers began their season by spoiling a championship celebration at Madison Square Garden. Now, the national media is weighing in on what their victory means for the Eastern Conference.
From questions about the Sixers’ championship potential to concerns about New York’s title defense, here’s what national commentators are saying after the Sixers’ opening-night victory:
‘The line of demarcation ... is the 76ers’
If the Sixers offseason additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown didn’t immediately prompt questions about their place in the Eastern Conference hierarchy, then their win over the Knicks certainly did.
On Wednesday morning’s episode of Get Up, ESPN analysts Jay Williams, Monica McNutt, and Alan Hahn discussed Philadelphia’s performance.
“The line of demarcation in the Eastern Conference is the Philadelphia 76ers,” Williams, a former NBA player, said. “It’s championship or bust. Anything short of them getting to an NBA Finals is a failure of a season, and that’s OK.”
Despite the 106-100 win over the defending champs, the crew still questioned how the Sixers handful of star players will coexist over an 82-game season, particularly given some of their ages and injury histories.
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‘A chance to do something special’
Following the victory at the Garden, Joel Embiid discussed his desire to return to elite defensive play, and sometimes that involves knowing when to step aside. In the second half, Embiid suggested he move off Karl-Anthony Towns and have LeBron play center on defense. It worked.
On ESPN’s First Take, Brian Windhorst noted that was a rare move for LeBron, and something that could be a sign of things to come this season.
“LeBron has not liked playing defensive center for decades,” Windhorst said. “But that’s what was needed in this game because of injuries and foul trouble. And, guys, he was awesome in this role. ... The fact that they can rely on all these different offensive players but also go to LeBron and his defensive flexibility is a reason why the 76ers have a chance to do something special this year.”
‘You got someone to be worried about’
Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith also shared his thoughts on the loss on First Take. While the former Inquirer columnist wasn’t initially willing to admit that the loss on banner night stung — “It is what it is ... it was just one game,” he said — he did say the Sixers put everyone on notice that they’re “someone to be worried about.”
But did losing to an expected challenger in the East, one that featured LeBron and a longtime rival in Embiid, sting more?
“You know you got somebody to be worried about,” Smith said. “This is the team that everybody’s talking about. It’s likely going to meet the Knicks in the conference final, even though I’m not sleeping on the possibility of Miami ... that’s what people are looking at, and then you want to send that message, and [the Knicks] didn’t do that last night.”
‘RING DINGED’: The New York Post reacts
The Knicks expected to celebrate their first NBA championship in 53 years on Tuesday night with a victory. Instead, the Sixers spoiled the festivities.
The New York Post captured the disappointment on Wednesday’s back page with the headline “RING DINGED,” referencing the Sixers’ victory after New York received its championship rings and raised its banner.
The Knicks shot just 37.2% from the floor, while Jalen Brunson finished with 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Knicks coach Mike Brown criticized his team’s offensive pace and movement afterward.
“All throughout the game, it looked like we were running in mud,” Brown said, according to the New York Post.
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New York struggled offensively, too. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges combined to shoot 5-of-20.
The Sixers, led by Tyrese Maxey’s speed, scored 28 fast-break points, including 19 in the second half, repeatedly capitalizing before the Knicks could establish their defense.
The Sixers’ ability to turn defensive stops into transition opportunities proved decisive, raising early questions about New York’s ability to match its Eastern Conference competition.
Beat reporters Gina Mizell and Chris Hine break down their most intriguing quotes from LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey during the preseason, along with what they most hope to learn about this revamped roster during the first month of the season. Watch here.
Watch the full interview below and subscribe to the Sixers Extra podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
