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The Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round in six games by the New York Knicks, following a 118-115 defeat in Game 6. That early elimination means Joel Embiid has once again failed to get to the Conference Finals in his career and he remains the only MVP to have never made it that far.
NBA MVPs who never made it to the Conference Finals: Joel Embiid
NBA MVPs who never made it to the NBA Finals: Steve Nash, Derrick Rose
NBA MVPs who never won a title: Charles Barkley, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Allen Iverson, Karl Malone
I have to say, it is a bit surprising how short this full list is. I would have expected a few more MVPs to have never won a title, but I suppose it speaks to how great a majority of those winners were, that they managed to win it all at some point. As for Embiid, let's take a look at which stage his postseasons have ended over the years.
2018: Lost in the Conference Semifinals to the Celtics in five games
2019: Lost in the Conference Semifinals to the Raptors in seven games
2020: Lost in the First Round to the Celtics in four games
2021: Lost in the Conference Semifinals to the Hawks in seven games
2022: Lost in the Conference Semifinals to the Heat in six games
2023: Lost in the Conference Semifinals to the Celtics in seven games
2024: Lost in the First Round to the Knicks in six games
For me, the biggest missed opportunity has to be 2021. The 76ers were clearly better than the Atlanta Hawks but shot themselves in the foot to lose that series. They squandered a 26-point lead in Game 5 and then proceeded to lose Game 7 at home as well.
That loss to the Raptors in 2019 also sticks out, with Kawhi Leonard famously hitting that game-winner in Game 7 to break 76ers hearts. Apart from those two, the loss to the Celtics in 2023 was another where you felt they could have broken through. The 76ers were up 3-2 in that series but lost back-to-back games to get knocked out.
I am going to sound like a broken record here, but injuries have played a big part in Embiid never being able to take the 76ers to the Eastern Conference Finals. Yes, he could have played better in certain spots, but the seven-time All-Star's body just seems to break down in some way or the other when he gets to the postseason.
Even against the Knicks here, Embiid was dealing with some knee problems and Bell's palsy. Despite that, the 30-year-old still averaged 33.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. Those are fantastic numbers, but Embiid struggled down the stretch in the series. It seemed like he was running on empty at the end of a lot of these games, which once again led to questions about his conditioning.
At this point, you do have to wonder whether an Embiid-led team has any chance of making a deep playoff run and winning a title. For me, that answer is no. As he gets older, things are not going to get better for him health-wise and I think you need another superstar next to him who will carry the load in the postseason.
More must-reads:
- Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
- Insider offers opinion on Lebron James' thoughts on Lakers
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Houston Rockets Will Benefit from this Brooklyn Nets Loss
One of the biggest stories that is going on in the NBA media realm is the future of Cam Thomas in a Brooklyn Nets uniform. Thomas, who is currently a restricted free agent, has seen his value fluctuate throughout the summer, but a recent offer from the Nets may have helped settle where his current value may stand. Brooklyn offered Thomas a two-year deal worth $14 million, according to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, and while it may be a decent offer, the 23-year-old guard believes he is worth more than that. “Cam Thomas thinks of himself as one of the most elite playmaking scorers in the NBA, and he wants to be compensated as such,” said Fischer. Because of the inability to strike a deal, fans and insiders around the league have begun to speculate that Cam Thomas could very well be on his way out of Brooklyn. But what does all this have to do with the Houston Rockets? Well, when James Harden was traded from Houston to the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, this gave the Rockets a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick swap with Houston. Brooklyn is coming off a 26-56 season, where they were a bottom-five team in the Eastern Conference last season. Now heading for yet another rebuild this upcoming season, fans may have to prepare for another lackluster year if they lose their leading scorer and spark plug, Cam Thomas. Houston is poised to have a stellar season this upcoming year so it is unlikely that the team falls anywhere near the top 15 selections, however if the Nets continue to fall down the rabbit hole of the Eastern Conference than the Rockets have a chance at either using the picks for more assets or even finding another player for the future in the respective draft classes.
Five potential landing spots for Christian Wilkins after stunning Raiders release
The Las Vegas Raiders just stunned the league by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins after only one year with the team. After signing a four-year, $110 million contract, he struggled with injuries in 2024. This was supposed to be a big bounce-back year for Wilkins, but after a dispute between the two sides in regard to how to handle his foot injury, the team decided it was best to part ways. Now, a premier interior disruptor is suddenly available. Assuming his medicals get checked out soon, there should be a lot of interest around the league. Where should he land? Dallas Cowboys Dallas has needed a dominant interior presence for quite some time. Osa Odighizuwa is an awesome threat, but he is only solid against the run. Alongside him, the team will be banking heavily on 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, who has been disappointing so far. With Dallas looking to return to the playoffs, adding a stud like Wilkins could give Dallas one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers added some young bodies in CJ West and Alfred Collins, yet neither offer a proven, all-around talent like Wilkins could if healthy. The 49ers defensive line was horrid outside of Nick Bosa in 2024, but by adding Wilkins, the team would now have a solid cast of starters with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Wilkins and Kevin Givens/Jordan Elliott. Miami Dolphins A return to Miami makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Dolphins know exactly how to use Wilkins, he knows the building and players, and the transition would be very easy. Miami needs help in the interior defensive line; by plugging Wilkins back into his old role, he could offer the quickest path to high-level impact. Detroit Lions With Levi Onwuzurike out with injury and Detroit needing more juice on the defensive line, adding a proven disruptor like Wilkins could make some sense. He could provide more depth while he gets fully healthy, and he can join a legit Super Bowl contender. His energy and mentality could be a good fit for a Dan Campbell-led squad. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars defense is average in the interior, but they have excellent edge-rushers who would benefit greatly from a strong disruptor up the middle. Wilkins could balance the front, help in the run defense and allow more one-on-ones for their premier edge-rushers. For a team that wants to return to the playoffs as soon as possible, adding a veteran like Wilkins could be a worthy bet to make.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Two Teams Linked to a Trade with Bruins for Pavel Zacha
The Boston Bruins are gauging trade interest in forward Pavel Zacha, according to The Fourth Period. Following a down season and a trade deadline where Zacha’s name was thrown around but was ultimately not moved, Bruins GM Don Sweeney is trying to move the 27-year-old Czech center. Zacha is playing in the final season of a contract that has a $4.75 million cap hit. Zacha, acquired from the New Jersey Devils in 2022 for Erik Haula, has been a solid pickup for Boston. He posted 21 goals and 57 points in 78 games in 2023-24, though his production dipped slightly to 47 points over a full 82-game slate last season. He can play up and down the lineup and has a strong two-way game. Who Has Shown Interest in a Zacha Trade? Two teams reportedly monitoring Zacha are the Vancouver Canucks and the Utah Hockey Club. Both teams are seeking top-six forward depth and would value Zacha’s steady offensive contributions. The Canucks have been busy all summer, signing and trading players. They have also been linked to Jack Roslovic talks in free agency, meaning they wouldn’t be adding both. Utah has been looking to make a splash this season and work their way up the standings in an attempt to compete for the playoffs. The Bruins would likely demand a notable return, but neither team is looking to send players back. The trade would likely involve a high pick or a mid-tier prospect. Zacha controls part of the process with an eight-team no-trade list. He’s owed just $3.75 million in actual salary each of the next two seasons, further boosting his trade appeal.
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