“That’s what you call a f***ing superstar…I’m coming for the sweep too!” Joel Embiid had some strong words for Toronto Raptors super-fan Drake after hitting the game-winning three to take the Philadelphia 76ers up to a 3-0 lead in Toronto.
Embiid is currently playing below the lofty standard he set this season, despite averaging 27.7 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, and 0.7 blocks thus far in the Sixers’ first-round match-up with Toronto. The fact that those numbers (aside from the 13 rpg) are all below his season averages is frankly ridiculous. Embiid is, simply put, dominant.
How far can he take the Sixers this postseason? Well, an NBA championship is not out of the question.
In the first round, Embiid has been facing off against an undersized Raptors team, whose tallest member concedes three inches to the Sixers center. The Raptors have been attempting to keep Embiid in check with a flurry of double- and triple-teams, but Embiid’s willingness to set up teammates has shown through. Teammates Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris are both scoring more ppg than they did in the regular season, making the Toronto Raptors pay for their Embiid strategy.
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If Embiid sees more one-on-one coverage in later series against players like Bam Adebayo or Brook Lopez, expect him to feast as he did in the regular season, when he led the league in scoring. There is no right answer for how to stop Embiid – teams will try to confuse him by switching up coverages and altering the timing of double-teams, but at best they’re just praying he’ll make a mistake.
Defensively, Embiid can be just as dominant. The Sixers center was fourth in the league in Defensive Win Shares this season per basketball-reference and top-10 in Defensive Box-Plus/Minus. He’s a menacing rim protector, but also has the quickness to compete on the perimeter.
Because of his dominance on offense, teams can’t “go small” to try to keep him away from the rim as teams out West have done to Rudy Gobert in recent playoffs. To do so would mean bleeding points to Embiid on the other end – not a viable strategy.
LATEST NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS COVERAGE: 76ers’ Joel Embiid Takes Major Shot At Raptors’ Coach Nick Nurse
A center hasn’t won a Finals MVP since 2005 when Tim Duncan did so with the San Antonio Spurs (though listed as a center, Duncan was a power forward). A *true* center hasn’t taken home the honor since Shaquille O’Neal in 2002. Embiid would be a perfect heir, considering he recently became the first center to win the scoring title since Shaq (in 2000).
The playoffs are a long, winding road of unpredictable twists and turns. Teams that look great in round one don’t always keep up appearances as the postseason marathon continues on. Even when the field reduces to eight teams, picking a title favorite correctly would take considerable luck.
LATEST NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS COVERAGE: 76ers’ Joel Embiid Takes Major Shot At Raptors’ Coach Nick Nurse
There’s no telling if the Sixers’ dominance will continue in its current form. But with Joel Embiid guiding the team, the Philadelphia 76ers have as good a chance as anyone right now of bringing home the championship.
