Daily News | Georges Niang took Doc Rivers’ challenge, then fueled the Sixers’ Christmas victory over New York Knicks
NEW YORK — Doc Rivers sarcastically asked Georges Niang if he would ever “make a freaking shot … or are we just on vacation?” as the 76ers’ stretch forward’s quiet start against the Knicks extended into the second half.Niang made good on his word, responding with a massive fourth quarter to help push the Sixers ahead and thenat Madison Square Garden to kick off the NBA’s slate of Christmas Day games.
Niang excelled in the two-man game with Harden, setting the screen at the top of the key and taking advantage of the free space when the Knicks doubled the perennial All-Star. Niang acknowledged he “[didn’t] know why they were playing in a drop coverage” and that he has not seen such defense “since college, maybe.” Back then, Niang was more of a traditional big man at Iowa State, rather than the three-point sniper who has connected on a team-best 42.3% of his 5.6 deep shots per game.
Added Niang: “James does an incredible job of hitting me on the hands and making those passes. My job is to shoot the ball, and I wasn’t going to stop doing that.”
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