After scoring dropping 14 points and 7 rebounds in 30 minutes of play, Joel Embiid didn't look like the MVP candidate he's been all season long. According to the 76ers front office, the fans and media are to blame for pressing their star into playing after days of endless scrutiny.
“You could see it long before he was hurt against the Warriors," wrote Sam Amick. "Embiid, who missed Philadelphia’s game at Portland on Monday night, looked like a player who pushed himself to play against Golden State because the whole basketball world was screaming in his ear. There are people within the Sixers who are convinced that he played only because of all the scrutiny.”
The "scrutiny" in question here refers to the backlash Embiid received for missing a recent game against the Denver Nuggets, which was advertised as a game-of-the-year contender before he was inexplicably ruled out for the contest. Embiid was ripped and trolled by the fans, and it's something that has apparently stuck with the reigning MVP.
Attendance Problem For Embiid
When it comes to his talent and dominance on the court, there is no question that Joel Embiid is one of the best players in the game. Unfortunately, his availability has been a serious problem over the course of his career, and the guy has always had trouble staying on the court for one reason or another. In seven seasons so far, Embiid has yet to play more than 68 games and has at least two seasons (not including the two at the beginning of his career) where he played in 51 games or less.
For the most part, those absences have been due to various injuries, but a number of them can be credited to preventative measures, which was seemingly the case on Saturday against the Nuggets. This season, of course, Embiid faces more consequences than ever for missing time. As part of the new CBA, award eligibility only applies to players who play in 65 games or more (almost 80% of the schedule). In other words, if Joel misses a lot more time this season, the consequences will stretch beyond fan backlash.
76ers Serious Contenders?
After a scorching hot start this season, the 76ers looked like an easy favorite to come out of the East. But amid this sump from Embiid and questions about his long-term durability, the cracks are starting to show. After last night's loss to the Warriors, Philadelphia is now 5th in the East amid a 4-game losing streak. This skid marks the lowest point of the season for the 76ers, capped off with Embiid's 14-point stinker.
Sadly, this is the type of play we're used to seeing from his team. Just when things are looking good, they always unravel and that's how it's been for every year in the Embiid era. If Embiid and the 76ers cannot break this spell and make some ground in the NBA postseason, the questions will never stop about their place in the East and their capacity to win the title as presently constructed.
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