The sour state of the 76ers was exposed this week after a recent team meeting was revealed to the public. While pressure builds for the 76ers to answer the call, reports indicate that Embiid is more focused on finding the snitch who leaked their moment to the media.
“When ESPN reported details on Tuesday morning, from inside the 76ers' team meeting following Monday night's blown lead in Miami, one league figure close to Philadelphia's All-Star center told me: ‘Joel is going to be furious.’ And that Embiid was going to try and find the Sixers’ supposed snitch," wrote NBA insider Jake Fischer.
It's mayhem in Philadelphia right now after news of Tyrese Maxey's challenge to Joel Embiid became mainstream. As the team looks to get back on track this season, they thought a group meeting would help get things together but it's been a pure disaster.
By all accounts, the meeting was mostly positive. According to Paul George and Reggie Jackson, it was about the players coming together and finding a solution to their troubles rather than an excuse to blame each other. Yet, somehow, someone let it leak to the media where it became a huge national sports story.
The fact that only trusted team members and coaches were in that meeting means that someone deep within their ranks is leaking information to the press. And for a team that's already 2-12, mistrust between teammates is the last thing they need.
After the loss on Wednesday (the 5th straight for Philadelphia), Embiid made his feelings known about the team's fearless snitch: "...a real piece of sh*t."
We may never know who leaked the secret 76ers meeting but they better hope it stays anonymous because they've done some real damage to the organization. Until the "snitch" is found (if they are at all) the 76ers players will struggle to trust each other and it will make it that much harder to communicate both on and off the court.
Already, some 76ers fans are pushing the team to shut down their stars for the season but it won't solve the distrust that has developed between the players. At this point, GM Daryl Morey may have no choice but to make a move and if Embiid finds out who the leaker is, he'll make sure that he's in the first trade out of town.
For now, all the 76ers can do is move on and try to weather the storm. With a three-game homestand, this could be a chance for the team to begin a winning streak and make up some ground in the standings.
Joel Embiid, who has been off all season, is showing signs of life this season, and if he can find the right spark it may not be too late to salvage the situation. Of course, things may never be the same for the 76ers again.
This latest media leak proves that one of their own is a snitch and that they'd rather risk the team chemistry than let this story go untold. It remains to be seen if their identity will ever be known, but you can bet that Joel Embiid will be on the hunt looking for whoever's responsible.
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