Philadelphia 76ers’ backup center, Paul Reed, recently sparked conversation with his candid remarks regarding his team’s first-round playoff opposition. He openly admitted that the Knicks were the preferred opponents for his team, a statement that has set the stage for a thrilling face-off.
Paul Reed did not hold back when expressing his team’s sentiment ahead of the playoff series against the Knicks. He said, “We’re not afraid of competition, but yes, we sought out the Knicks matchup, undoubtedly. They’re the more manageable team, I suppose,” during his guesting on the “Run it Back” podcast.
This comment has stirred up a buzz, as it appears to downplay the Knicks’ capabilities. It’s important to note that the 76ers had the option to face the top-seeded Celtics instead, but chose the Knicks as they deemed them a less formidable opponent.
To further fuel the conversation, Reed tweeted, “We’re not shying away from challenges, but yeah, we desired the Knicks matchup, they’re the less daunting team…” This public statement inevitably adds pressure to both teams as they prepare for their upcoming matches.
The 76ers had a strategic play-in game against the Miami Heat, where the winner would face the Knicks in the first round. The Heat, without their star player Jimmy Butler, will have to defeat the Bulls to earn a match against the Celtics.
The Knicks now have the golden opportunity to prove Reed and the 76ers wrong. Interestingly, the Knicks have a favorable record against the 76ers this year, winning 3 out of their 4 games. However, Embiid, the 76ers’ MVP, only participated in one of these matches.
