Joel Embiid bluntly lays out what 76ers need after Knicks sweep

The Philadelphia 76ers had high hopes for their second-round series against the New York Knicks. They had beaten the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to advance in the NBA playoffs.

However, that scintillating response provided no help to the Sixers. The Knicks had momentum of their own after beating the Atlanta Hawks in six games and there was no slowing down once they took the court against their long-time rivals.

New York swept the Sixers out of the playoffs, blowing them out twice, including a 144-114 triumph in the series finale. The Knicks had a remarkable shooting game against Sixers, making 25 of 44 shots from beyond the arc against a defense that was unable to do anything to slow down the New York offense.

The Sixers were unable to mount any serious charge against the Knicks after falling behind 43-24 at the end of the first quarter. Center Joel Embiid said the New York sweep means that the 76ers have a lot of work to do.

“At times, it’s okay to just say the other team was better,” Embiid said after the game, per 76ers reporter Derek Bodner. “Got to get better, from top to bottom. Ownership, front office, players, coaches. Everybody just has to get better.”

That’s a major admission from Embiid, but it would be difficult to come to any other conclusion since the Knicks won with such ease. Philadelphia was able to stay close to the Knicks in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, but the Knicks were able to dictate the pace in the other three games.

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