On the last day of the regular season there were some embarrassing scenes in Cleveland – all because of fear of a player. But what can we expect from Joel Embiid in the playoffs, if the 76ers even reach them?
Von Ole Frerks
JB Bickerstaff didn’t want to leave anything to chance. His team started the game without both starters in the backcourt, and during the game the coach continued to thin out his rotation. With 6:39 minutes left on the clock, Bickerstaff brought in Tristan Thompson for Max Strus, alongside Isaiah Mobley, Pete Nance, Emoni Bates and Damian Jones, the last remaining 2016 champion then finished the game.
Cleveland was leading Charlotte 108-102 when Thompson arrived. Cleveland then scored two more points with its lineup of a swingman and four bigs. The Hornets still scored 18 points, even though they didn’t actually want to win the game. The Cavs tanked at a world-class level and were more consistent than their guests.
It was a pathetic display from a team that could have finished second in the East with a win at that point, when New York was trailing Chicago at the same time. Since the Knicks were still turning their game around, this wouldn’t have happened – with a win, Cleveland would have finished third instead of fourth, would not have ended up on the bracket side of the overpowering Celtics, and would have had a potentially better matchup with Indiana than it does now with Orlando.
But you’re always smarter later. Under no circumstances did Cleveland want to risk facing the Eastern Conference’s other big bad wolf in the first round. If you want to view the Philadelphia 76ers as such.
the essentials in brief
The Sixers are an enigma, or rather: they are many things at the same time, difficult to grasp. They are the team in the East that – after Boston – has played arguably the best basketball this season for a while (only the Knicks and Cavs can have a say). They once were 29-13 after Joel Embiid scored 70 points against the Spurs; Their net rating at this point was +8.3, just 1 point behind the Celtics. It’s been a long time.
What happened next is known: Embiid injured his knee and was out for months. There were other failures, such as De’Anthony Melton. There were new additions, namely Kyle Lowry and Buddy Hield. There was a free fall, all the way into the play-in ranks. Then suddenly there was Embiid’s comeback, on April 2nd the reigning MVP was back on the court for the first time.
There are currently eight wins in a row – the longest winning streak of any NBA team at the start of the postseason. Philadelphia still remained in a play-in position, despite an identical record as fifth (Orlando) and sixth (Indiana). And now the question arises as to how dangerous this team – and this Embiid – can really be.
The NBA’s longest winning streak
Important first: The eight wins came against a very grateful game plan – in the comeback the Thunder competed without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Orlando was beaten without Franz Wagner, otherwise of all the opponents only Miami had a positive record and real ambitions. Be that as it may, before Embiid’s return, the Sixers would have struggled with these tasks too.
The big man himself played in five games – he was spared the back-to-back in San Antonio, and he was rested on the final day of the game against Brooklyn after injuring his knee again in the previous game against Orlando. A “precautionary measure,” ESPN reported. The upcoming play-in duel with Miami was (of course) seen as more important.
So for now all that remains is the impression from five games. This was surprisingly good – Embiid put up 30.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists, with strong efficiency (64.1% true shooting). He got tired quickly and looked rusty at times, conserved his energy defensively, but also had some really strong sequences in which his top speed was impressive.
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What percentage is Embiid at?
Embiid isn’t back to himself yet, as evidenced by, among other things, the 24 turnovers in five games or the fact that he thrives on the jumper even more than before. Since the comeback, Embiid has taken more than five three-pointers per game, well above the season average (3.6) and an indication that he needs to use his power game a little more carefully.
But this was already visible – Embiid currently takes almost exactly 10 free throws per game. He’s not quite as dominant a scorer as he was over the first half of the season, when he scored more points per possession than any volume scorer in NBA history. He is still more dominant than almost all other players in the East, perhaps? At least the predominantly weak opponents of the past few weeks didn’t stop him from scoring his appropriate 30 points.
This version of Embiid also intimidates opponents – and has a massive influence on his teammates. Tyrese Maxey’s speed is even more valuable when another scorer draws even more attention. Hield gets more space for his throws, Tobias Harris can be more of an off-ball cutter again. Embiid is the linchpin, especially offensively.
Is the playoff curse ending?
His presence massively increases the potential of his team. Lineups with him and Maxey have a net rating of +11.1 over time, which is on par with almost all of the best two-man combos in the league. Since his injury, the squad around him has become a little deeper.
And yet it’s not easy to think of the Sixers as a legitimate contender. Anyone who sees Embiid as the best player in the conference alongside the currently injured Giannis Antetokounmpo is not wrong, at least in relation to the regular season. In the playoffs, however, players like Jayson Tatum and Jimmy Butler have achieved far more than Embiid, whose production has shrunk in every postseason year so far.
USA squad for the Olympics is announced
Is Dream Team 2.0 coming? According to ESPN, the USA basketball team has decided on a squad for the 2024 Olympic Games. And it has it all. ran has an overview of the team that will be on Mission Gold.© Getty Images
One place remains open…
Head coach Steve Kerr and national team director Grant Hill only want to award a place in the 12-man squad shortly before the training camp in July and before the first test match in Las Vegas.© AFLOSPORT
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) – Point Guard
The best three-point shooter in the NBA has to be there. Stephen Curry is still one of the ten best players in the NBA. Hardly anyone makes the field as wide for his fellow players as the “Baby-Faced Assassin”. This will be extremely important for Team USA, especially at the international level. © imago/Cordon Press/Miguelez Sports
Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers) – Point Guard
At last year’s Basketball World Cup, Tyrese Haliburton had to admit defeat to the German team in the semifinals. Six months later, the point guard is having the best season of his career. Hardly any player presents his teammates so well and influences the game even without perfect scoring. © Getty Images
Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics) – Point Guard
With a new $145 million contract in his pocket, Jrue Holiday can fly to Paris with peace of mind. He would probably only be a backup, but he has the confidence from 64 wins this season with the Boston Celtics.© ZUMA Wire
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) – Shooting Guard
A player who can be easily integrated is Devin Booker. The guard has a wide range of skills and is also deadly from mid-range. A player like him can hit a shot at any time and can also act as a catch-and-shoot player.© Getty Images
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) – Small Forward
When it comes to LeBron James, no explanations are needed. Depending on your taste, the “King” is the best or second best basketball player in NBA history. Every team in the world would greet him with a kiss. © Getty Images
Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns) – Small Forward/ Power Forward
In recent years, KD has often suffered from injuries and therefore played few games. However, he is fit this season and shows why many consider him the best scorer in the NBA. There is no bad throw for the “Slim Reaper”. Kevin Durant should be in the Americans’ starting five. © Getty Images
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) – Small Foward/ Power Forward
Jayson Tatum is the clear “go-to guy” for the Boston Celtics. In the USA he would probably be just one of many. But that doesn’t matter. Tatum is one of the best players in the NBA and has a huge chance to become NBA champion with the Boston Celtics this year. © Getty Images
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Shooting Guard
The “Ant-Man” was the head of Team USA at the last World Cup, so he came home disappointed. Now there could be a “Redemption Arc” for him.© AFLOSPORT
Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) – Center
There is probably no other big man in the postseason who can have as big an impact on defense as Anthony Davis. “The Brow” can also “switch” to smaller opponents and keep them in front of him. For the USA he is probably placed at five.© Getty Images
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat) – Center
When talking about playoff defenders, you can’t leave out Bam Adebayo. What applies to Davis also applies to Adebayo. His unremarkable numbers often belie what an outstanding defender he is.© Getty Images
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) – Center
Joel Embiid has already emphasized that he really wants to play in Paris. Before his injury, the Cameroon native was the MVP favorite. Now, shortly before the start of the playoffs, he is fit again and ready for Team USA. © Getty Images
This fact has nothing to do with the fact that Embiid never stayed healthy for an entire postseason. This year he is not at 100% right from the start and his team – as with one exception in every year since 17/18 – does not have the home advantage in round one. After these eight wins in a row, there will no longer be a “building opponent” against whom the team can calmly find its rhythm.
Early exit from the Sixers probably
On the contrary. Philly has two do-or-die games ahead of them to even reach the playoffs, with Boston or the very physical Knicks in both cases it would be a tough task in the first round that would test and exhaust Embiid to the maximum, especially defensively.
Maybe Embiid will surprise everyone after his recent short break and the Sixers have the potential to go on a Lakers- or Heat-like run like 2023, but an early exit now seems much more likely. Maybe the Cavaliers’ tanking job ultimately says more about the Cavaliers than the Sixers.
Let’s see if that pays off – and let’s see if the Sixers will be good enough in the playoffs to justify that fear. Let’s assume that they would have preferred to play against Cleveland to start.
2024-04-16 09:12:00
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