NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics calls a play as RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks defends during the second half at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks won 138-134. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
1 advantage Knicks have over every Atlantic Division team
New York Knicks. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
Philadelphia 76ers: Rebounding
Believe it or not, the Knicks can get down and dirty in the paint! With seven-foot centers Mitchell Robinson and newly acquired Isaiah Hartenstein, along with aggressive power forward Julius Randle, New York will rule the glass. This is one advantage the Knicks will have when facing the Philadelphia 76ers this season.
On the other side, Joel Embiid is the only one crashing the boards with James Harden getting the long rebounds coming off a missed shot. With it being one of the most important aspects of the game, whoever wins the rebounding battle will most likely win the game.
Last season, the Knicks were the better team in this category, especially with offensive rebounds. New York averaged 11.5, while Philadelphia grabbed 8.5 offensive rebounds per game.
In the four-game series between the two teams last season, the Knicks out-rebounded the 76ers, 187-173. I think this trend will continue, especially with guys like Obi Toppin and Jericho Sims. Heck, even RJ Barrett can get in there and grab some boards.
in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving</a> on the Brooklyn Nets, a soon-to-be MVP and a past MVP in Joel Embiid and James Harden on the Philadelphia 76ers, and a Toronto Raptors team that has the Rookie of the Year in Scottie Barnes.</p>
<p>There have been so many headlines for all teams in the Atlantic Division this offseason. Players around the league have been praising the Raptors for their cohesiveness at the summer runs this offseason, will they surprise the East? Will Embiid go after MVP again? Will Harden return to form? KD wanted a trade from the Nets and now he is supposedly fine with staying put, and the same goes for Kyrie. Will the Celtics make a run <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/31/knicks-rj-barrett-sparked-jayson-tatum-celtics-nba-finals-run/">back to the Finals</a>?</p>
<p>And, of course, how will the Jalen Brunson signing work out? Or, when will <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/04/julius-randle-trades-knicks-donovan-mitchell-news/">Julius Randle be traded</a>? There’s been plenty of news to keep up with and the season is finally right around the corner.</p>
<p>The good thing is that I believe that the Knicks will compete this year in their division. Let’s take a look at the advantages that they have over their Atlantic Division opponents.</p>
<h2><span style="color: inherit;font-size: 20px;font-style: italic;font-weight: bold">1 advantage the Knicks have over every team in the Atlantic Division</span></h2>
<h3>Brooklyn Nets: Games played</h3>
<p>We all know that the Brooklyn Nets <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/08/09/latest-kevin-durant-report-proves-knicks-superior-nets/">were a circus</a> in 2021-22 and in the offseason as well, but they have seemed to figure things out (for now). Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are staying. Along with the remaining players on the roster, the Nets may be facing one major issue: chemistry! All guys on a team need to gel together to meet a specific goal, which is to win a championship. It starts with chemistry, but you can’t have chemistry if guys cannot consistently stay on the court together.</p>
<p>Durant, the face of the franchise, only played 55 games last season. Not to mention, throughout his career he has had a knack for sustaining injuries. Even worse, Irving only played 29 games last season due to his vaccination status, as well as other Kyrie things. Their third superstar, who was acquired in a trade for James Harden, hasn’t even put on a Nets jersey yet! Ben Simmons hasn’t played basketball in over a year, so who knows what they are going to get from him.</p>
<p>There’s been so many question marks regarding the team across town, but one thing you can’t question about the Knicks is their dedication, effort, and togetherness. New York’s starting five played in at least 70 games as opposed to Brooklyn, who had only two players play in at least 70 games in 2021-22.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Philadelphia 76ers </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133196" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F09%2F1375136073.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1375136073.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1375136073-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">New York Knicks. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Philadelphia 76ers: Rebounding</h3>
<p>Believe it or not, the Knicks can get down and dirty in the paint! With seven-foot centers Mitchell Robinson and <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://www.nba.com/knicks/news/knicks-sign-isaiah-hartenstein" target="_blank" rel="noopener">newly acquired Isaiah Hartenstein</a>, along with aggressive power forward Julius Randle, New York will rule the glass. This is one advantage the Knicks will have when facing the Philadelphia 76ers this season.</p>
<p>On the other side, Joel Embiid is the only one crashing the boards with James Harden getting the long rebounds coming off a missed shot. With it being one of the most important aspects of the game, whoever wins the rebounding battle will most likely win the game.</p>
<p>Last season, the Knicks were the better team in this category, especially with offensive rebounds. New York averaged 11.5, while Philadelphia grabbed 8.5 offensive rebounds per game.</p>
<p>In the four-game series <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=234&v=eAuz1EVe4TY&feature=emb_title%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">between the two teams</a> last season, the Knicks out-rebounded the 76ers, 187-173. I think this trend will continue, especially with guys like Obi Toppin and Jericho Sims. Heck, even RJ Barrett can get in there and grab some boards.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Toronto Raptors </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133198" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2155,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F09%2F1358458574.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks" width="3200" height="2155" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1358458574.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1358458574-768x517.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">New York Knicks. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Toronto Raptors: Free Throws</h3>
<p>A trip to the free throw stripe can be the most rewarding thing and it can also ruin a career. Missing free throws at the wrong time can define a player forever. That’s one thing that a team needs, excellent free throw shooters. Getting to the free throw line is an art in itself, to be honest, and not every player is able to consistently get to the line.</p>
<p>The Knicks have a knack for getting to the free throw stripe. Last season, they were tied with the Houston Rockets for most free throws attempted per game at 24.1. New York averaged 18 made free throws per game, which was tied for fourth most with the Minnesota Timberwolves.</p>
<p>Having players like RJ Barrett and Julius Randle helps in this category as they use their moves to draw fouls against their defenders. Head-to-head <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5EfV-d3D2w&feature=emb_title%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">last season</a>, the Knicks made it to the free throw line 88 times, while Toronto saw the stripe 78 times. The best thing about it is that the Knicks have added another 80% free throw shooter in Jalen Brunson.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Boston Celtics </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133200" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2269,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F09%2F1364837038.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks" width="3200" height="2269" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1364837038.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1364837038-768x545.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">New York Knicks. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Boston Celtics: Age</h3>
<p>One advantage the Knickerbockers have over the defending Eastern Conference Champions is age. The Celtics have six players under the age of 25. Guess how many the Knicks have? 11! More than half of New York’s roster is under the age of 25.</p>
<p>When it comes to sports, it’s a young player’s game! Having youth benefits the Knicks as new players provide energy and moxy to the game. The best thing about it is that the Knicks have signed two players in the starting lineup to extensions.</p>
<p>Mitchell Robinson, 24, and <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/16/1-advantage-knicks-atlantic-division-team/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/04/26/knicks-rj-barrett-played-key-factor-celtics-sweep-nets/">RJ Barrett</a>, 22, recently signed extensions. With Quentin Grimes being a possible starter, New York could have three young studs in the lineup. It looks like the Knicks are investing in the future. In fact, New York has a pretty young roster overall. Newly acquired point guard Jalen Brunson just turned 26.</p>
<p>The Knicks only have four players over the age of 25 with Derrick Rose being the lone player in his 30s. The Celtics have several players on the way to age 30 and Al Horford and Danilo Gallinari looking towards their 40s.</p>
<p>The Knicks should be able to use their youth to their advantage in their matchups with the Celtics this year. From the starting lineup to the bench, the fountain of youth is in New York!</p>
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