After the Sixers ripped the officiating following their Game 2 loss, it was the Knicks who had grievances to express during their post-game media session following Game 3. As Peter Botte of The New York Post writes, head coach Tom Thibodeau wasn’t happy with the fact that Joel Embiid went to the line 21 times while his team as a whole was awarded just 19 free throw attempts.
“I’ll look at it again, and I’ll send my clips in like I do every game and they’ll say, ‘marginal contact,’ and then we’ll have marginal contact on Embiid and he’ll be at the line 21 times,” Thibodeau said after Thursday’s loss. “So that’s the way it works.”
While some Knicks players suggested they’d expected the officiating in Game 3 to favor the Sixers after how Game 2 ended, they took exception to an Embiid foul on Mitchell Robinson in the first quarter. After Embiid fell to the floor on defense, he grabbed Robinson’s legs as the Knicks center attempted to rise up for a layup attempt (video link). Donte DiVincenzo called it a “dirty” play, while Josh Hart said Robinson was fortunate to avoid a significant injury.
“I’m all for tough fouls, tough playoff fouls, but that’s something that can put a guy out for a significant amount of time,” Hart said, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “So we’re lucky he didn’t get seriously hurt during that time.”
Embiid – who was called for a flagrant 1 foul on the play, rather than flagrant 2 that would have ended his night – explained to reporters after the game that he had “flashbacks” to a play earlier this year when Jonathan Kuminga fell on his knee. He said he wanted to avoid a repeat of that incident.
“I didn’t mean to hurt anybody,” Embiid said. “I just … in those situations I gotta protect myself, because I’ve been in way too many situations where I’m always the recipient of the bad end of it.”
Here’s more on the Knicks as they prepare for Sunday’s Game 4:
- Robinson’s status for Game 4 remains up in the air, but he didn’t practice on Saturday, according to Thibodeau (Twitter link via Fred Katz of The Athletic). If Robinson is unable to play, the pressure will be on Isaiah Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa to respond to and match Embiid’s physicality on Sunday, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.
- OG Anunoby and DiVincenzo were two of the Knicks’ most reliable role players during the regular season, but they’ve been up and down so far in the playoffs, according to Botte, who says New York needs more consistency out of the two wings going forward. The Knicks outscored opponents with Anunoby on the floor in every single one of his 23 regular season games with the team, but have a negative net rating during his minutes in two of three postseason contests.
- The fact that so many key Knicks contributors played their college ball at Villanova has been a fun subplot of the first-round series between New York and Philadelphia. As Bondy details for The New York Post, both Hart and DiVincenzo spoke this week about how they hoped to be drafted by the Sixers when they came into the NBA. “Yeah, I wanted to go (to Philadelphia),” said Hart, who was the No. 30 pick in the 2017 draft. “They were at 25 and did a draft-and-stash, some European guy that I can’t pronounce the name.” The 76ers used that pick on Anzejs Pasecniks, who spent the next two seasons overseas, then had his rights renounced by Philadelphia in 2019.
Time to repay Embiid for the nut kicks and ankle grab. Jericho Sims is sitting on the bench, strong as Atlas with six personal fouls going unused… or one Flagrant 2
Wahhhhh
Embid has to be kidding. He got away with a Full Draymond, and nobody really expected different. He really should “no comment” it (or just say he brain locked), but I guess his teenage girl persona makes that a non-option. Still, it’s disingenous to suggest he was trying to prevent Mitch from falling on his knees by grabbing Mitch’s legs and pulling him down on top of him.
The officials, early in Game 4, need to make clear to PHI that their Game 3 antics won’t be repeated with impunity. Obviously, if they don’t, then the NYK will likely respond to any perceived provocation. Unfortunately, Silver will never give the NYK the same leeway he gave PHI and Embid. If a NYK takes Embid down in the same manner that Embid took Mitch down, I can guarantee it won’t be just a flagrant 1 and a play-on.
Embiid got away with several Draymond type of fouls in game three alone. He better be prepared to take his medicine. Too bad the Knicks don’t have an Oakley type player on the team right now.
FWIW, I think they have what they need, and I suspect they’re talking about it (internally). This group worked too hard to get here to let this clown gain the upper hand based on his thuggery and/or tantrums. 3-1 is the priority, but if that’s not in the cards, then the tone has to change. Whatever that takes.
Well said and game on
Time to go to work OG
(Only body tough enough to hurt Jo Fell)
Don’t approve of Joel’s actions but are we actually starting a rivalry in 2024 ? I have to pinch myself !
It’s the biggest thing missing today from this great sport and I’m here for it ! Go knicks
Perhaps, but I don’t see any having near the intensity of the past. Teams don’t stay good and together long enough, and the game isn’t physical enough. An outlier physical (aka dirty) player (Brooks, Draymond, etc) can inspire a team and fanbase against them, but usually it will not extend to one entire team vs another. Everyone is making too much money and is too happy.
PHI, for one, could easily have almost an entirely new roster (other than Embid and Maxey) next season.
True , I was kinda gearing towards the fans perspective but what your saying makes a ton of sense
For those who didn’t get a taste of 90s basketball this is at least some progress
Embiid has always been a grub and a protected species. Nba are just controlling the series. What’s new? If only star calls didn’t exist. One of the fairest sports in the world, not manufactured or manipulated at all, (sarcasm) sighs. Little wonder your Tatum, Doncic types are full-blown whiners and constantly barking at officials. Why are some of these guys getting calls I’m not?
Heinus attempt to hurt Robinson by
Dark hearted.
Jo Fell Embiid
We all knew the Sixers would get a friendly whistle in Game 3 and I will say that the Sixers really won the game with that hot 3rd quarter.
That said, Embiid’s reckless and flagrant play was unacceptable and it’s ridiculous he was allowed to do that. Two nut hits, hip-checked OG, and attempted to (and finally did) injure Mitch. And all he got was a Flagrant 1 out of it. Throw in his absurd flopping and whining, too. Knicks will respond in Game 4.
Laughable, considering the officiating at the end of games 1 and 2, but can’t put anything past the self importance of Thibodeau, emphasizing the issue only b/c of the outcome, as he always has. Learned from doc rivers there
It’s official
New Yorkers want blood
Lots of big tears in this thread for sure.
Okay as a Sixers fan first of all that foul on Robinson was terrible by Embiid. If I was a Knicks fan I’d be wanting a flagrant 2.
That said, games 1 and 2 the refs favoured the Knicks, game 3 in Philly after the Sixers had been complaining they were always going to rule in our favour.
What annoys me is that Joel relys so heavily on getting calls and going to the line. Reminiscent of James Harden in Houston, but atleast James without the calls would still go out there and compete and give teams 40. Embiid after being banged up constantly has just taken the I’m always going to be soft approach now. We all know if Embiid wanted to go out there and be physical he would be in the top 3 hardest players to stop. His work in the paint is second to none, he can shoot the 3 and can handle the rock but he never chooses to play hard and use his skill instead he needs the refs to give him calls.
The Knicks don’t have Randle and Robinson is likely out. Now would be the best time to go out there, toss it down to him in the low block and let him go to work. Tobias, Maxey, Lowry and Batum on the perimeter to kick out too and hit open threes. It won’t happen and instead he will go searching for calls but end of the day you won’t win a championship playing like that.
That’s why I’m sick of Embiid and would actually be looking to move him this offseason. He’s banged up, soft and eventually his output will fall off a map. Cash in while the values high.
Anyways hope we win game 4
New York you need to worry about those illegals hanging around thanks to uncle Joe. Not Joel and a few fouls.