76ers’ VJ Edgecombe talks success against Jalen Brunson, Knicks in win
NEW YORK — The Philadelphia 76ers earned an impressive 116-107 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday, thanks in large part to the heroics of rookie guard VJ Edgecombe. The No. 3 overall pick had 23 points – 18 in the second half – and spearheaded a strong defensive effort.
Edgecombe took on Knicks star Jalen Brunson in the second half and he made life miserable for the New York All-Star. Brunson shot just 1 of 10 and scored six points after halftime Friday and he struggled to get anything going.
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You have to be surprised at what Edgecombe was able to do on Friday. He just played his first match at Madison Square Garden and he delivered a fantastic performance. We may be surprised, but not Edgecombe himself.
“Do I surprise myself? No, to be honest, no,” Edgecombe said. “I’m not surprised. I know what I’m capable of. That’s all.”
That being said, Brunson is one of the best scorers and players in this league. There’s only so much he can do to get free from open looks, as he’ll use a series of pump fakes and different footwork moves to frustrate defenders, but Edgecombe stuck with him. It was a stunning performance.
“He’s a tough player,” Edgecombe said of Brunson. “We all know that. Everyone knows he’s super good. I’m just trying to make things difficult. You’re not going to keep him aimless, but try to make things difficult. I just did the best I could. Not let him look sharp or anything like that.”
Another important aspect of New York’s offensive plan is setting up a ton of screens for Brunson to pass through and play. Instead of backing off and letting him get what he wants, Edgecombe fought for a lot of those screens and provided a lot of help for the Sixers on the defensive end of the court. Fighting for those screens is something he’s proud of.
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“To be honest, it’s a bit like a skill and the desire to do it,” Edgecombe added. “When you see a screen coming, you can say, ‘Ah, change,’ but just want to do it. You have to make an effort and I also know who I’m guarding. An elite player. Someone who thrives on coming off ball screens. He really welcomes ball screens. So, I just try to make it difficult for him.”
With an impressive performance against Brunson and the Knicks in a win, Edgecombe can be proud that his first game at The Garden was special.
“It was incredible,” he smiles. “It was everything I expected. The fans, it was great, man. It was a good first game at The Garden, that’s for sure.”
The Sixers will face the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday for the second night of a back-to-back.
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This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 76ers VJ Edgecombe talks success against Jalen Brunson and Knicks’ victory
