We forget, but Joel Embiid has never played in a conference final! Each time, his Sixers stalled against the Celtics or the Heat, or on a miraculous basket from Kawhi Leonard or a big crack against the Hawks…
What if 2023 was the right year? Embiid and his teammates have all the cards in hand as they regained home court advantage tonight against the Celtics. The opportunity for the 2023 MVP to do a double blow: eliminate his pet peeve and play his first conference final.
“Honestly, I don’t care…” does he respond to this. “We have one more to win, and that’s all I think about. And then, of course, playing at home, with the energy of the home crowd, and I imagine everyone plays better at home. I really play better at home. What we did tonight was easier said than done… But we have to do it again, and that’s exciting. »
Finally some regularity
Above all, we must avoid reliving the same nightmare as against the Hawks in 2021. Philly was seeded number 1 in the East, and they had cracked against the band at Trae Young. This time, Embiid and his family are in the shoes of the outsiders, and it seems to suit them better.
“Throughout the game, we just showed consistency” appreciates the Cameroonian, author of 33 points in Game 5. “I think that’s the biggest change from the last game, and that’s what makes me super happy. When you have a big lead, you have to find a way to increase it further, instead of giving them a chance to believe in themselves. I found that tonight we were determined never to give them a chance to believe it. »
A counter symbol on Jaylen Brown
In the figures, the Celtics still believed in it since they returned to -5 at the end of the match, after having been up to 16 points behind. But at no time did the Sixers give the impression of no longer mastering their subject, and one action marked the spirits: it was Embiid’s counter on Jaylen Brown in the 4th quarter, while he had just lost the ball. Like LeBron James, Embiid goes all the way up the field to succeed in his “chasedown block” before crashing into the base of the basket!
“He’s the MVP” reminds PJ Tucker. “That’s what he does, and that’s what is expected of him. When he’s aggressive and determined, we’re a tough team to beat. »
| 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 | 66 | 35 | 54.8 | 33.0 | 85.7 | 1.7 | 8.4 | 10.2 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 33.1 |
| Total | 394 | 32 | 50.1 | 33.7 | 81.9 | 2.2 | 8.9 | 11.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 27.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
