Even if he explains that he is not yet at 100% physically, Joel Embiid seemed to be at his best tonight. With 59 points (out of 105 for his team), 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 blocks, the Cameroonian pivot had never offered such a spectacle of domination. Both in attack and in defence.
“It’s not about me” he replied after the match. “It’s about the team. Obviously, the coaches put me in this position and my teammates gave me the ball. There was good spacing around everything we did. Like I said, all the credit goes to my teammates.”
A speech that still contrasts with the visual impression, as the Sixers relied almost exclusively on Joel Embiid. The center scored 26 of Philadelphia’s 27 points in the final quarter…
” It’s funny “ explained Tyrese Maxey. “At one point, the coach wanted to set up a system, a pick-and-roll, and I said to him, ‘Let’s give the ball to Joel’. He said to me: ‘Okay’. Because he’s too good. »
Dominant in attack… and defense
Giving the ball to Joel Embiid was indeed the Sixers’ strategy. Enough to allow the pivot to score more points in the last quarter than all the other players (teammates and opponents) combined. With 26 points, he scored more than other Sixers players (1) and Jazz players (20).
Over the past 25 seasons, this has only happened four times. With Shareef Abdur-Rahim in 2000, Kobe Bryant in 2004 and 2006 then Tracy McGrady in 2006.
In terms of statistical records, Joel Embiid becomes the first player to record a game with +50 points, +10 rebounds, +5 assists and +5 blocks since this last stat is recorded, i.e. 1973. He is the first player to record a quarter with +20 points and +5 blocks over the last 25 years.
“What is most impressive is the defense”concluded PJ Tucker. “He protected the circle, he was there, low post, constantly all evening. For me, it’s more important than all the points he scored, all those things he did in defense. He communicated better today, and I think those things take better, even on offense because he’s so in tune with the game.”
| 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 | 9 | 35 | 51.4 | 24.2 | 83.0 | 1.7 | 8.3 | 10.0 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 29.3 |
| Total | 337 | 31 | 49.0 | 33.5 | 81.0 | 2.3 | 9.0 | 11.3 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 26.1 | |
