They say if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. The Philadelphia 76ers just did exactly that, knocking off the Boston Celtics in a hard-fought seven-game series after Boston entered as the clear favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the Finals. Now, as they prepare to face the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the question feels fair: Why can’t Philadelphia be the team that comes out of the East?
The Knicks will bring plenty of confidence and home-court advantage into tonight’s matchup. They had a stronger regular season and looked dominant in their first-round closeout. But the Sixers enter this series riding real momentum and belief after their upset victory. Everything seems to be clicking at the right time for Philadelphia.
Joel Embiid continues to battle through injuries and is listed as probable for Game 1. His postseason poise in the later games against Boston was impressive, and he has a strong history of success against Karl-Anthony Towns. Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a clutch closer, delivering the kind of big moments the franchise has long needed. Paul George brings veteran toughness and big-shot ability at 36, while rookie VJ Edgecombe has defended and scored with surprising confidence in his first playoff run.
Defensively, the Sixers have multiple options to slow down Jalen Brunson, including Edgecombe, George, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Quentin Grimes. Maxey has also made noticeable improvements on that end. On the glass, New York’s offensive rebounding poses a challenge, but Philadelphia showed real progress in that area as the Boston series went on.
This isn’t about ignoring the Knicks’ strengths. New York is a very good team with a loud home crowd and plenty of playoff experience. But the blueprint for a Sixers win is clear from past matchups and recent form. Two years ago, Philadelphia pushed a stronger Knicks roster in a competitive series. This version of the Sixers looks deeper and more battle-tested.
Beyond New York, the rest of the East doesn’t feel intimidating. Detroit and Cleveland both needed Game 7 wins just to get here. If Philadelphia can handle the Knicks, there’s no reason to fear what comes next. The path through the conference feels more open than it has in years.
This isn’t to say it will be easy. The Sixers have had their ups and downs, and playoff basketball rewards consistency. But after what they just accomplished against Boston, the opportunity is real. Philadelphia hasn’t had a window this promising since their deep runs in the past. The moment is here — now it’s up to them to seize it with the same fire and focus they showed last week.
The East is right there. Why not the Sixers?