Which Knicks are key without OG Anunoby to finish off 76ers

The New York Knicks recently picked up a Game 2 win over the Philadelphia 76ers to go up 2-0 in their first-round series, but that was partially overshadowed by a hamstring injury sustained by OG Anunoby. Anunoby is officially listed as questionable for Game 3 as the series shifts to Philadelphia, but many are expecting that New York will take a cautious approach, considering their 2-0 lead.

Anunoby has arguably been the Knicks’ best player so far in this postseason, shooting lights out from beyond the three-point line and providing his usual elite defense, and if he misses time, multiple New York players will have to step up in a big way to hold down the fort.

Mikal Bridges

Bridges has had a roller coaster of a playoffs thus far, at one point drawing the ire of Knicks fans everywhere during their first round series against the Atlanta Hawks when he missed a potential game-winner in Game 2, then proceeded to score zero points in Game 3.

However, since then, Bridges has started to turn things around, scoring 35 points between Games 1 and 2 in the series against Philadelphia. If Anunoby misses time, Bridges will likely need to be more aggressive hunting his shot against the 76ers, creating more offense for himself outside of just the baseline midrange jumpers that have become more or less his signature during his tenure with the Knicks.

Whether Bridges can manage to increase his offensive workload while remaining elite on defense, where he has been consistently great throughout these playoffs, remains to be seen.

Jordan Clarkson

Clarkson has played sparingly thus far in the series against the 76ers but figures to see a bigger role if Anunoby is out of the lineup. While Clarkson likely won’t be starting in place of Anunoby, he does project to see increased minutes off the bench, where he has functioned as an effective microwave scorer for New York this year.

With their depth now potentially compromised, the Knicks will need Clarkson to continue to put pressure on the 76ers with his quick first step and reliable outside shooting, while mitigating some of the defensive lapses that have hurt him at times during his career.

Deuce McBride

McBride is another player who figures to see a bump in minutes if Anunoby misses time, and it’s certainly possible that Mike Brown could insert him into the starting lineup for Game 3 if Anunoby is out.

McBride, similar to Bridges, has been quite streaky in these playoffs, having multiple brutal offensive games in the Hawks series, but also heating up at opportune moments, including big performances in Games 3 and 4 of that matchup.

The reserve guard shot just 1-5 from the field in Game 2 against the 76ers, but the one make did come at a crucial point of the fourth quarter, when the Knicks were just starting to take control of the game down the stretch.

If the Knicks want to keep up their winning ways as the series shifts to Philadelphia, McBride is among the players who will need to play well, particularly if there is no Anunoby.

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