Joel Embiid’s progress, defending Jalen Brunson and more Sixers-Knicks storylines to watch

“That’s their identity,” the 76ers’ standout guard added. “So for us to go in there and try to get ‘Ws’ and try to win this series, we have to match that. Not just match it, but we have to overcome that and be better than that and be extremely physical, as well.

Though the Knicks dominated the regular-season series, 3-1, even Nurse acknowledged it’s difficult to glean much from those matchups, because Embiid did not play in three of them and several other injuries on both sides peppered the other games.In a series expected to be closely contested, conventional wisdom gives the edge to the team with the best player. Under normal circumstances, that is Embiid. Although he has averaged 30.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.

“The complementary guys are going to get their chances,” Nurse said. “And we’ve got to make sure we play some next-action basketball.”Brunson has put together a dynamite regular season, averaging 28.7 points and 6.2 assists to become a legitimate MVP contender. The multiskilled guard can manipulate defenses with his dribble moves, pass when swarmed, shoot from the outside and midrange, and draw fouls while finishing at the rim.

“So it goes almost in two extremes,” the coach added, “and then everywhere in between with him. … I just want to make sure we’re back fast, and we’re making him work if it’s slow.”While breaking down how to decipher the Knicks’ defense, Nurse said Friday that Maxey “is just as important” as Embiid. In three regular-season games against the Knicks, Maxey averaged 26.3 points on 44.8% shooting and six assists. One of those, however, was his first game back after a concussion. He will likely spend much of this series being guarded by OG Anunoby, who missed much of this season with an elbow injury but is one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders.In his eighth NBA season, Hield will finally experience his first playoffs.

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