After returning from a sprained LCL in Game 2 of the Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Joel Embiid’s body responded well. The results he achieved during Thursday’s practice in terms of motion tracking results gave the Sixers added optimism ahead of Friday’s Game 3.
“He looked good, and his numbers were great,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said on Thursday. “We didn’t play well, but just the speed that he reached, you know, his explosions, they were very close to normal. So that was great for us to see.
“And, more importantly, great for him to be able to do it and see that he can do it, and then have very little swelling or anything like that. So that’s what we needed to find out.
“Obviously, we didn’t win the game. But that’s important for us.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers & Boston Celtics Updates
Embiid played 27 minutes in the Sixers’ Game 2 blowout loss, finishing with 15 points and five blocks. It wasn’t nearly enough to avoid Philadelphia ultimately losing 121-87. There is a significant amount that must be cleaned up as a team to avoid falling 2-1 in the series.
“I just thought when you watch the game, they did everything they wanted to do offensively,” Rivers said. “We didn’t supply a lot of pressure at all. We weren’t into the ball, they moved the ball. I mean, today, guys, it looked like a couple possessions they were in shootaround. They were just playing with nobody in front of them, no resistance. And so we will do that better.
“But then they didn’t allow us to do that. So if you’re going to have one team in your airspace, and not allowing you to move and deflecting and grabbing and holding, and then you, on the other end, allow them to move, it’s going to be a mismatch. And that’s what it was last night.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers & Boston Celtics Updates
In terms of bringing Embiid back into the mix following a Game 1 victory featuring James Harden scoring 45 points, the Sixers do not see it as a challenge. Philadelphia is confident, given the team had a full regular season playing together.
“It’s not that hard,” Rivers said. “We’re making too much of it. We really are. I mean, should we just play different the rest of the year now, or should we play the way we played all year? You know what I mean? This is not rocket science. And it’s not that hard to do.
“We didn’t play well. I thought their ball pressure took us out of everything. It wouldn’t have mattered if Joel was there or not. We would have had a tough offensive night, you know, with the way we allowed them to play inside of us. They pushed us all around. They rolled us off of spots. We couldn’t get organized because of their pressure. So we’ll be better.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers & Boston Celtics Updates
The Sixers look forward to having the benefit of playing in front of their home crowd at Wells Fargo Center for Games 3 and 4. With a major opportunity to take control of the series, every advantage will need to be exhausted to capitalize.
“The fans are going to be great,” Rivers said. “They’re going to be charged up, to say the least.
“We need it. It’s good. It’s good to have. Typically, role players play better at home. So I hope that is true.”
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