In the minds of the NBA world, this could become the Eastern Conference Finals everyone has been waiting for. The defending champion New York Knicks will head into the new season led by Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Sure, they have questions about whether they can do it again, but there is no reason why they won’t feel confident.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers answered back by creating the league’s newest superteam, adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to a core that already featured Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.
Both teams have elite talent and very few weaknesses. But basketball is ultimately about matchups. Here’s how each position stacks up in what could become the NBA’s biggest playoff series in 2027.
New York Knicks Starting Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns
Philadelphia 76ers Starting Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
Jalen Brunson vs. Tyrese Maxey
This is arguably the closest matchup in the series. Brunson enters the season as one of the NBA’s premier point guards after averaging 26.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game on 46.7% FG and 36.9% 3-PT FG, leading New York to the championship last season while posting 28.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 46.5% FG and 36.3% 3-PT FG.
No doubt, Brunson is also the ultimate closer, having won Clutch Player of the Year two seasons ago and finishing 5th last year.
Maxey isn’t far behind. The All-NBA guard posted 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 36.7% from three. His speed is unmatched, and he’ll benefit enormously from having LeBron James handling some playmaking duties.
The difference comes down to playoff shot creation. Brunson has proven he can carry an offense against elite postseason defenses, while Maxey is now surrounded by significantly more offensive help. Brunson is the proven playoff performer right now.
Winner: Knicks
Josh Hart vs. V.J. Edgecombe
Experience favors Hart, but talent eventually favors Edgecombe. Hart is one of basketball’s ultimate glue guys, averaging 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while doing countless things that don’t appear in the box score. He crashes the glass, defends multiple positions, and consistently makes winning plays.
Edgecombe, meanwhile, has elite athleticism and upside. After an outstanding Summer League, the second-year player enters the NBA surrounded by four established stars, meaning he won’t be asked to carry much offensive responsibility. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 43.8% FG and 35.4% 3-PT FG.
By playoff time, Edgecombe’s incredible athleticism could become a genuine difference-maker. Playing next to LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Maxey will accelerate his development, enough to earn a slight edge.
Winner: 76ers
Mikal Bridges vs. Jaylen Brown
This is the heavyweight wing battle, but there can only be one winner. Bridges is one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders while averaging 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game on 49.0% FG and 37.1% 3-PT FG.
He rarely misses games, guards the opponent’s best scorer nightly, and has become a much more polished offensive player than he was earlier in his career.
Still, Jaylen Brown is on another level. Brown enters the season after averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 47.7% FG and 34.7% 3-PT FG, while already owning a Finals MVP trophy and five All-Star selections. He finished 6th in MVP voting last season and made the All-NBA Second Team.
He’s stronger attacking the rim, more explosive in transition, and capable of taking over playoff games offensively. No doubt, Brown is easily the best player in this matchup, and possibly the series.
Winner: 76ers
OG Anunoby vs. LeBron James
This matchup would be fascinating since Anunoby was so critical in last year’s Finals, even coming up with a game-winning putback in Game 4. Anunoby is easily one of basketball’s best two-way forwards, averaging 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while routinely defending All-Star wings.
His playoff numbers jumped to 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game while his physicality and length make him one of the few players capable of bothering LeBron over extended stretches.
But even at nearly 42 years old entering his 24th season, LeBron James is one of the smartest players in basketball.
After averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds, LeBron no longer relies on athleticism. His elite basketball IQ, passing vision, and ability to dictate tempo will make the difference.
Anunoby will make life difficult, without question. But we can’t overcome what LeBron can do in terms of making winning plays.
Winner: 76ers
Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Joel Embiid
This matchup could ultimately decide the series, because we don’t trust Embiid’s health enough.
Towns enjoyed another outstanding campaign, averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while stretching defenses with elite three-point shooting (36.8%) for a seven-footer. Few big men create spacing the way Towns can.
Towns showed his all-around impact in the postseason, posting 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game on 45.6% shooting from deep.
Joel Embiid is the more dominant force when healthy, but that’s too much to ask at this point.
The former MVP averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 48.9% FG and 33.3% 3-PT FG in 38 appearances. With LeBron, Maxey, and Brown creating easier looks, Embiid won’t face nearly as many double teams as previous seasons.
If healthy, Embiid possesses the highest ceiling of any player in this series. But we don’t trust his body to hold up, and Towns has developed into a complete all-around player who is readily available.
Winner: Knicks
Mike Brown vs. Nick Nurse
This coaching matchup is every bit as fascinating as the players on the floor. Mike Brown has been through it all, and his journey has been incredible. He has won two NBA Coach of the Year awards, won last year’s title, and collected four championship rings as an assistant coach.
His structured approach fits New York’s identity perfectly, and his ability to make defensive adjustments could keep the Knicks competitive throughout the series.
Nick Nurse is very creative, and players seem to buy into his game plans. The 2019 NBA champion is fearless when it comes to defensive schemes, unconventional rotations, and in-game adjustments, often changing coverages multiple times within the same quarter.
Now equipped with LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey, Nurse has more elite talent than at any point in his coaching career.
Still, we can’t ignore that Mike Brown has proven himself in New York already, and he has everyone bought in at this point.
Winner: Knicks
Knicks Advantages
The Knicks’ biggest advantage is championship pedigree. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns already understand one another, while Mike Brown leads a roster that has played meaningful basketball together.
Chemistry matters in the postseason, and New York won’t have to spend months figuring out roles the way Philadelphia likely will.
New York also has fewer health concerns entering a potential playoff matchup. They don’t have anyone who will deal with Embiid’s upcoming health issues.
The Knicks also have elite defenders. They can throw multiple long, physical defenders at LeBron James and Jaylen Brown throughout a seven-game series, forcing Philadelphia to work for every basket.
76ers Advantages
Philadelphia counters with something no other team can match: superstar power. A lineup featuring Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid gives the 76ers four proven All-Star-level talents.
The Sixers also possess the two best players in the series if health is guaranteed. Joel Embiid is one of basketball’s most dominant interior forces when healthy, while LeBron James continues to control playoff games through his intelligence, playmaking, and leadership.
Add Maxey’s explosive scoring and Brown’s elite two-way production, and Philadelphia has more ways to win. If one star struggles, another is capable of carrying the offense. No other team has this many stars on one team.
Who Has The Advantage In A 7-Game Series?
This series would showcase two completely different paths to championship contention.
The Knicks will rely on their playoff-tested core that already knows how to win together. Brunson is one of basketball’s most dangerous playoff performers, while Hart, Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns fit together almost perfectly. Their cohesion would make every game a fight.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, has more firepower. The additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown transformed an already dangerous roster into arguably the NBA’s most talented starting five. Maxey continues ascending toward superstardom, Embiid has the strongest supporting cast of his career, and Edgecombe will be a problem from an athleticism point of view.
The biggest wildcard remains health. If Joel Embiid stays on the floor and LeBron maintains his usual postseason level, the 76ers have too much offensive creation and too many elite players to consistently stop over seven games.
The Knicks would almost certainly push the series deep, but the 76ers’ star power eventually becomes overwhelming.
Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks 4-3
