New York Knicks vs. the Philadelphia Sixers: Hype vs. Obscurity

Tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern time, the Knicks play the 76ers in a battle between the chronicled and the ignored.

New York has gotten plenty attention throughout the season. There was the Tyson Chandler signing, the Melo injury and of course, Linsanity. Then, Melo's return, the losing streak and Mike D'Antoni's resignation. The narrative lurched between, "Championship contender!" to "Dismal failure," and it will be back to "Championship contender!" if the Knicks can pull off a fifth straight win under new coach Mike Woodson. 

One small problem there: The Knicks are playing a better team tonight. Philadelphia cannot beat Miami, but they boast an impressive plus-6.7 point differential and the league's best defense. Much of their defensive prowess can be credited to Andre Iguodala, a star in all the ways fans tend to ignore. Iggy is the anti-Melo, a player whose contributions are helpful as they are hidden. He epitomizes a Sixers team that churns out quality for an apathetic public. 

Though the Knicks certainly do have some positive attributes—namely, a much-improved defense and the contributions of a certain Taiwanese-American point guard—they ebb and flow with the schedule. New York suffered its much publicized losing streak during a run of games that were mostly on the road against winning opponents.

In contrast, Linsanity occurred against a mostly easy slate. They are, in short, average. And if Woodson seeks to emphasize an isolation-based, perimeter attack, then they should struggle against solid defenders like Jrue Holiday and the aforementioned Iguodala. 

Pick: Philadelphia