As the New York Knicks continue to wait to find out who they will play in the Eastern Conference Finals, Josh Hart is still throwing shade at Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. <\/p>\n
On the latest episode of The Roommates Show (starts at 21:15 mark), Hart doubled down on his take that Philadelphia isn’t a sports town to taunt Sixers fans: <\/p>\n
“You can’t be a sports town if another team’s fanbase takes over your arena,” Hart said. “You cannot be a sports town if that happens. Boston? Sports town.”<\/p>\n
Hart also shaded Embiid for his comments asking Sixers fans not to sell their tickets by invoking the Boston Celtics and their fans:<\/p>\n
“You will never see Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum sitting there saying, ‘fans, we need y’all to come out because if y’all don’t the Knicks are gonna take over.’ They’re never gonna say that because they don’t have to. Because that’s one of the places that’s a sports town, and you will not take over that arena. I don’t think you’re gonna take over the arena in New York.”<\/p>\n
Jalen Brunson, who hosts the show with Hart, did try to pushback against his teammate’s stance by referring to Philly as a sports town multiple times. <\/p>\n
The topic came up in the wake of Hart saying after the Knicks capped off a sweep of the 76ers in their second-round playoff series on Sunday by declaring that Philadelphia wasn’t a sports town. <\/p>\n
The topic came about because of how many Knicks fans were in attendance at Xfinity Mobile Arena for the final two games of the series, despite the best efforts of the Sixers to prevent a New York takeover. <\/p>\n
Embiid made a point of saying<\/a> prior to the start of the series that he hoped 76ers fans wouldn’t sell their tickets. <\/p>\n “I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid said. “Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support. Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”<\/p>\n The Sixers announced<\/a> they were donating tickets for Games 3 and 4 to various local community organizations in an attempt to pack the arena. <\/p>\n Neither ploy worked, as Knicks fans swarmed Philadelphia’s home arena for the two games. <\/p>\n There are practical reasons for Knicks fans to be excited about the opportunity to buy tickets to road games. Nosebleed seats at Madison Square Garden for a first-round game against the Atlanta Hawks cost more than $350<\/a>, with resale courtside seats going for more than $46,000. <\/p>\n