Without a doubt, a healthy Joel Embiid is a force to be reckoned with on the court. The thing is, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas came out and thought that even with the big man not injured, the Philadelphia 76ers are still no threat to the Boston Celtics.
Last season, Embiid was a man on a mission for Philadelphia as the team’s inability to make the Finals and the center’s misfortune of not winning MVP fueled him to no end. The result was a regular season performance that elevated the 76ers as a whole and the eventual awarding of the said award to the big man.
Over the course of 66 games last season, Embiid notched 33.1 points on 54 percent shooting from the field, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per contest. His performance then landed the 76ers star an MVP award, the first of Embiid’s career.
This season, his performance was pretty much the same. In 39 games, Embiid tallied 34.7 points on 52 percent shooting, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks on a nightly basis. He was also on pace to contend again for the MVP and projected to lead the Sixers to a deep run in the postseason. Unfortunately, a meniscus injury sidelined him for most of this season, tanking his chances to win the award and push Philadelphia to a better record.
Gilbert Arenas Doesn’t Think Joel Embiid is a Threat to the Boston Celtics
While a lot of people think a healthy Embiid is a gamechanger in the Eastern Conference, there are some who think the Boston Celtics still come out on top. One of these is former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and his opinion on the matter can be seen in an episode of Nightcap:
During the regular season, the Celtics won three of their four games against the 76ers. Embiid wasn’t present in one of Boston’s victories due to the injury he suffered earlier this year.
As it stands, there is a chance for both teams to meet in the first round. Boston holds the top seed in the East and Philadelphia may get the last spot via the Play-In Tournament. By then, Arenas’ claim about Embiid and the Celtics will be known.
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