Already author of 59 points a month ago against Jazz, Joel Embiid gave a layer tonight against the Hornets. In 34 minutes, the All-Star pivot compiled 53 points and 11 rebounds with 20 of 32 on shots, including 2 of 3 from 3-pointers, and 11 of 11 on free throws!
The Cameroonian is the first Sixers player since Allen Iverson to sign multiple 50+ games in the same season. The former MVP had achieved this feat in 2000/01 and 2004/05. Same feat for Wilt Chamberlain in 1965/66 and 1967/68.
“The ball just followed me” he summarizes about his performance. “My teammates, James (Harden)… I thought the ball was passed around pretty well, and the ball just found me. What is good is to do it when you win because it sucks when you do this kind of performance in a defeat. I’m just happy to have been productive in a victory.
Joel Embiid ‘looks like it’s easy to score’
After a failed start to the game, the Sixers took advantage of Joel Embiid’s height, pounds and talent advantage over Mason Plumlee to serve him permanently. Back to the basket, on a counter-attack or wide, he always tried to attack his opponent, and that gives some complicated baskets after contacts, and he often finished on the ground. A real undermining work to bend Charlotte’s defense.
“He stayed in attack mode the whole game” notes James Harden, who distributes 16 assists. “He gave the impression that it was easy to score. He was aggressive going to the circle and his shots landed in it. »
It should be remembered that neither Harden nor Embiid were there when the Hornets won 107-101 with 72 points scored in the racket. This time, Embiid made it clear to them that he was the painting boss.
“They say you have to serve the guy who has a warm hand. Whether it’s my teammates or me, if someone scores once, we have to keep serving him until the defense stops him once, twice or three times. In this kind of situation, I kept scoring, and they just kept giving me the ball. »
| Joel Embiid | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2016-17 | PHL | 31 | 25 | 46.6 | 36.7 | 78.3 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 20.2 |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 63 | 30 | 48.3 | 30.8 | 76.9 | 2.3 | 8.7 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 22.9 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 64 | 34 | 48.4 | 30.0 | 80.4 | 2.5 | 11.1 | 13.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 27.5 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 51 | 30 | 47.7 | 33.1 | 80.7 | 2.8 | 8.9 | 11.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 23.0 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 51 | 31 | 51.3 | 37.7 | 85.9 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 10.6 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 28.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHL | 68 | 34 | 49.9 | 37.1 | 81.4 | 2.2 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 30.6 |
| 2022-23 | PHL | 17 | 36 | 52.6 | 31.0 | 84.2 | 1.7 | 8.0 | 9.7 | 4.9 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 32.2 |
| Total | 345 | 32 | 49.2 | 33.6 | 81.2 | 2.3 | 9.0 | 11.3 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 26.3 | |
