” This 3-point action is willpower, determination, the desire to win. » The description made by P.J. Tucker sticks well to the reality of the images. About a minute from the end of regulation time in Game 4 against the Celtics, the strong winger snatched an offensive rebound, after an “airball” from Tobias Harris, and put it back in with the fault to equalize (105-105 ).
” I had just gotten into the game so I had to leave a footprint somehow “, Develops the 38-year-old player, author of six points overall. His footprint went beyond that single offensive rebound. Because in the wake of his decisive action, he went to blow in the ears of his leader, Joel Embiid.
The explanation? Before Tobias Harris inherited the shot on possession, Joel Embiid had multiplied the feints at the post, in front of Al Horford, but had preferred to let go of the leather without trying his luck. So PJ Tucker’s message was to push his teammate to stay aggressive.
” No one can hold Joel one-on-one. There’s no way to do it, I’m sorry. It’s no disrespect to Al or anyone else. But I defended on him for many years, and when he is aggressive and sure of himself, it is impossible. I’ve seen it two or three times in a row not to be, you can’t afford it. Not with a season in play », displays the « role player ».
Physically worn out
The lack of aggressiveness of Joel Embiid on this action can be explained by the fatigue of the player, bent over with his hands on his knees when PJ Tucker addressed him.
” The fact of having played a lot wore me down a bit towards the end. I recovered in overtime and started to be aggressive again », entrust the pivot, author of 4 of his 34 points in overtime and the assist for James Harden’s key shot, after attracting the two-man take. With this extension, he played a total of 46 minutes, which is significant for him, who has just returned from a two-week stint in the infirmary.
In addition to this big playing time, after already 39 minutes played in the previous match, Joel Embiid suffered against the defense of his former teammate, Al Horford. The Sixers player signed a new big double-double with 34 points and 13 rebounds but he was dominated in the fourth quarter by the interior of the Celtics, who countered him three times in the period, concluded with two small points (1/6) by the MVP of the regular season…
Despite this complicated passage, Philly therefore came out of it. ” We made the right choices when we needed to. PJ took a big offensive rebound, obviously James’ shot. They took in a lot of tough shots all night. We held on, that’s what we did throughout the season. Sticking together, fighting anything – trailing by five points with two minutes remaining – that’s huge for us. We know we didn’t play at our best », develops the interior.
His personal performance? ” I was terrible tonight. I have to be better and I will be. »
| 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.
