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Evan & Tiki

Tiki Unloads on Joel Embiid After Knicks Blow Out Philly

Evan & Tiki

Audacy

Sports

4.2988 Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2026

⏱️ 21 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Knicks opened their playoff series against Philadelphia with a statement and Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber break down exactly why New York looks so dangerous right now. From Jalen Brunson’s unstoppable scoring to Karl Anthony Towns forcing impossible defensive matchups, the guys explain how the Knicks completely overwhelmed the Sixers in Game 1. They also dive into the team’s growing chemistry, elite ball movement, and why this version of the Knicks finally looks fully connected heading into a deep playoff run. The conversation also centers around Joel Embiid accusing Mikal Bridges of dirty play after a hard screen sequence and whether the Sixers are already mentally cracking under the pressure. Evan and Tiki debate Embiid’s comments, discuss the adjustments Nick Nurse has to make, and explain why the Knicks’ playoff experience together could be the biggest difference in the series.

Transcript

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0:00.0

I try not to over exaggerate, especially to the regular season, but here we are in the postseason.

0:04.6

And I try not to over exaggerate or overreact to postseason games because it's a long run.

0:10.1

And we certainly saw that when the next lost game three to Atlanta had dropped down to one.

0:14.6

But the way this basketball team is playing right now, the way they are dominating, the way the Sixers had no answers last night,

0:24.8

and they were a talented team. It's a little different than Atlanta. They're also a

0:28.6

playoff experience team. It is difficult to not watch the New York Knicks and realistically think

0:35.9

there could be a parade in the latter part of June.

0:39.2

Well, I mean, the last three games, they've been effectively blowouts, right?

0:42.6

It's how offensively dominant they've been against an inferior Atlanta Hawks team and obviously

0:47.1

against a much better 76th's team.

0:49.9

We beat the Celtics.

0:51.4

But I think to me, this felt like a, a dumb loss by the 76ers.

0:59.6

What do you mean?

1:00.4

So there's certain ways that the good teams, and we saw this throughout the regular season,

1:05.5

defend the Knicks.

1:06.6

And part of it is basically letting Josh Hart do whatever he wants.

1:11.1

You have to put an athletic, whether it's a wing, usually he's got to be a wing,

1:15.8

or if you have an athletic center on Carl Anthony Town, someone who can run with him.

1:20.4

What the 76ers did felt like, all right, we're not even going to try today.

1:25.8

Joel and B., run around with Carl Anthony Towns.

1:28.5

Yeah, good luck with that. And get toast. I mean, Embed is, he was dominant in the 76th or series. Give him his credit. He's been a dominant player, a Hall of Fame type player for his entire career. He is not athletic anymore. Well, he can't defend. He can't defend Jaylen Brunson on Switches. that's for damn sure. He can't move.

1:44.4

And so if you're going to leave him

...

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