The New York Knicks sent a clear message in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals: Joel Embiid is their primary target, and they know exactly how to exploit him. In a blowout victory that had the Madison Square Garden crowd roaring from the opening tip, the Knicks exposed the 76ers' defensive weaknesses by repeatedly putting Embiid in uncomfortable positions—and making him pay every time.
It all started with high ball screens. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse watched helplessly as his team surrendered points on six consecutive possessions midway through the first quarter, each one initiated by a pick-and-roll involving Embiid. "They scored in pretty much every way they could," Nurse admitted after the game. "Came off the screen, hit a 3. Didn't get through the screen, got a lob. Hit a couple floaters down the lane."
The sequence was a masterclass in offensive execution. Mitchell Robinson threw down a lob dunk. Jalen Brunson, playing with the same relentless energy that defined New York's first-round victory over Philadelphia in 2024, drilled a pair of midrange pull-ups and a driving layup. Then came a pull-up three from Brunson, followed by a catch-and-shoot corner triple from Deuce McBride. By the time the dust settled, the Knicks had seized control of the game and never looked back.
Brunson finished with a game-high 35 points, looking every bit the playoff star who has become the face of this Knicks resurgence. "The ball was going in, and I got a rhythm," he said. "My teammates did a good job of setting screens and getting me open."
The strategy was simple but devastating: force Embiid to defend in space, then attack whichever option he left vulnerable. Could he contain the roll man? Could he bother the ball-handler? Could he do both? The answer, at least in Game 1, was a resounding no. Every possession seemed designed to put the Sixers' MVP candidate in no-win situations, and the Knicks capitalized ruthlessly.
Philadelphia tried to counter by having reserve forward Justin Edwards intentionally foul Robinson on the very next possession—a tactic opponents have used to neutralize the Knicks' backup center's defensive and rebounding impact. But by then, the damage was already done. The Knicks had established their game plan, and the 76ers were left scrambling for answers.
For Philadelphia, the path forward is clear: find a way to protect Embiid from these mismatches, or risk watching the Knicks repeat the same formula for an entire series. The adjustments start now, and the clock is ticking.