Joel Embiid’s performance, with 52 points against the Celtics, made an impression. To the point of sealing the race for the MVP trophy according to his coach Doc Rivers. The Sixers wanted this victory against Boston, the pivot confirmed it himself, and they got it.
The Celtics left Philadelphia with a bitter taste in their mouths. Not only because of the defeat, but also because of the circumstances. Deprived of Robert Williams III and Al Horford, they were diminished against Joel Embiid.
The All-Star pivot took the opportunity to dominate and impose his power. The 2022 finalists lacked a response, but the referees didn’t help either, they lament, whistling too fast.
“The referees are just waiting to be able to whistle”, believes Al Horford for The Athletic. “It’s difficult to defend against him when you don’t have the right to touch him”, adds Grant Williams.
“If I get angry, it’s because something obvious has happened. I get punched in the face and no one sees it? »
In addition to finishing with an excellent 20/25 in shooting, Joel Embiid made 13 passes over the free throw line. Therefore, when he exceeds the limits and is not sanctioned, Grant Williams gets angry. At the end of the game, the Cameroonian touched him in the face. The action continued and the Philadelphia player was able to find PJ Tucker in the corner for an award-winning field goal. Exceeded, the interior of Boston complained and collected a technique.
“I was hit in the face twice. I asked for this to be whistled, and I took a technique,” says Grant Williams. “I received a technique for that. The next action, Tucker complained. He got nothing. Later, Embiid hit me in the face again, no slow motion, no blatant foul. He too spoke to the referees, but nothing, no technique… Did I do something different to receive one or should I just shut up? »
If Grant Williams exploded at this moment of the game, it is because of the accumulation of forgotten whistles in his duel with Joel Embiid and the attitude of the officials.
“I got angry about it. Throughout the match, I heard the referees telling me that they had missed such and such an action, or that it was not worth calling. I fight, I deal with it, he steps on my toes… but I continue. I don’t shout, I communicate with the referees. So if I get angry, it’s because something obvious happened. I get punched in the face and no one sees it? »
Nevertheless, the interior of Massachusetts is not a bad player. He recognizes that his opponent of the evening was huge and that he did not simply dominate because the referees whistled at him.
“He gave me a hard time all evening. He put in some tough shots, especially from mid-range. It was difficult to defend. I should have done better. The actions I regret the most are those where he beat me on the dribble, without resistance. Because the shots at mid-range, you have to do with it. »
