Sixers blow one to the Knicks at MSG 108-97

NEW YORK CITY. NY - On a night when Sixers fans all but took over Madison Square Garden, peppering the stands with chants of E-A-G-L-E-S-EAGLES, and M-V-P for Joel Embid, the team was never able to show the same fight and desire as the faithful.

As the game tipped off in New York City it seemed as though the Sixers would be running away with the contest by halftime as they held a 35-15 lead with just 3 minutes to go in the first quarter, though just a few short possessions later the Knicks would come knocking on the door as we headed into the second frame. From that point on it seemed like the Sixers were sparring to keep the Knicks at arm’s distance. Though a couple of offensive runs kept them in the lead for the majority of the second and third quarters it was evident they’d never be able to hold on.

Even after the lead began to slip in the second, Doc Rivers neglected to make any changes come the second half; defending his decision postgame.

“Just because one half didn’t work dosen’t mean you vacate an entire unit or an entire gameplan, I thought we just weren’t mentally strong tonight”.

Rivers’ decision would prove to be fatal as the Knicks clawed closer to even with the Sixers in the third quarter, shrinking the Philly lead to only three by the end of the period.

The fourth quarter would however prove to be the squads downfall as the Knicks began the frame on a 10-0 run, quickly burying the Sixers before they had a chance to fight back. And as the MSG crowd got into it, it became increasingly obvious the Sixers had no chance to turn this one around late. The Knicks had outplayed them in nearly every facet late as they took advantage of a Sixers club that may have taken them for granted.

Doc Rivers acknowledged his team’s struggles postgame.

“They were the more physical team, we weren’t, they deserved to win tonight”

Headed into a crucial stretch of games where the Sixers will take on some of the best the Association has to offer, the squad can not afford to play so lackadaisically and unenthused. Though it hasn’t been every night, this struggling trend as a result of lazy play has reared its ugly head all too often as of late. Hopefully, they can turn it around next time out, but it will certainly not be any cakewalk as the club prepares to face off with the best of the EC in the Boston Celtics this Wednesday in Beantown.