After missing nine games due to a case of COVID-19, Sixers center Joel Embiid had a huge game in his first night back on Saturday, racking up 42 points and 14 rebounds. However, he struggled on Monday and again on Wednesday, scoring a total of 29 points on just 7-of-33 shooting in a win over Orlando and a loss to Boston.
Embiid said after Wednesday’s game that he feels like he’s still rounding into form again following his COVID-related absence, as Tim Bontemps of ESPN relays.
“I would never use it as an excuse but obviously I think it’s going to take me awhile to get back, especially legs and cardio and all that stuff,” Embiid said. “But every single day I got to keep working hard, and keep getting better.”
Head coach Doc Rivers acknowledged after Wednesday’s loss that Philadelphia needs improved shooting from Embiid, but said the issues on offense extend beyond the team’s star center.
“We’ve got to get Joel going,” Rivers said. “We get him going, the whole team gets going. That’s the number one thing. But that’s two games in a row I thought the offense was lackluster. Execution is really bad right now. But, again, I’m not concerned by it. We’re going to get through it. It’s just that we’re dropping games while we’re getting through it.”
Here’s more on the Sixers:
- Asked on Wednesday about the Ben Simmons situation, Rivers said it’s not an issue that’s at the front of his mind. “I literally don’t even talk about it,” Rivers said (Twitter link via Justin Grasso of SI.com). “I coach the team and the guys that I can see every day. I let (president of basketball operations) Daryl (Morey) and (GM) Elton (Brand) deal with all of the other stuff.”
- Speaking to Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire, veteran center Andre Drummond said he has loved his time in Philadelphia so far and dismissed the idea that he ever had any “real beef” with Embiid.
- Al Horford only spent one season with the 76ers after signing a four-year, $97MM deal with the team in 2019. He wasn’t a fit in Philadelphia and admitted on Wednesday when his Celtics faced the Sixers that 2019/20 was a “difficult year” for him, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “No question about it,” Horford said when asked if his reputation took a hit during his time with the Sixers. “But it’s everything on me. It was my decision to leave [the Celtics], and it was like, ‘How are you going to respond when you’re faced with adversity?’ Being down, being talked down about and those things. I was written off, and I’m glad I got another opportunity in a place where I want to be.”
Let’s be real. Embiid has historically not played well against Horford. That was a big reason why Elton Brand signed Horford to such a big contract in the first place.
Please pick two teams that will miss the playoffs
Hawks
Knicks
Celtics
76ers
Recently these 4 are 9-12 seed in East
Hawks and Wizards (not on list).
Knicks, Celtics and 76ers all make the playoffs.
Hawks and Wizards are currently better than those 3
IMO
Current 2nd seed Wizards are playoffs lock
If one of Raptors or Pacers make good trades, your those 3 are lottery
East is better than ever but West is still better
Are the Knicks buying their tickets in advance?
Cavs and Knicks
Sixers just need to deal Simmons away at this point. We currently sit 11-11 a quarter of the way through the season which is a huge fall from winning the east last season.
I think we need to deal Ben before it really has an affect on the roster. Cause if we finish with a losing record, miss the playoffs and waste a whole season of ball, player and fans will all get really annoyed. This is a team built for going deep in the playoffs and that’s what we expect.
These are the 3 deals I like the most.
1. Simmons, Joe and Bassey for Bogdanovic, Hunter, Okungwu and a protected first.
2. Simmons for Heild, Haliburton and a second rounder.
Or
Simmons, Thybulle and Bassey for Fox.
3. Simmons, Thybulle and Springer for Jaylen Brown and Hernagomez.
Need to forget about Dame Lillard and your 25 man shortlist and waiting around. Move now before it ruins your season and pisses everyone off. All these deals I’d be more than happy with and be willing to drop off the picks and give away picks if that’s really required. Just get something done.
Celtics wouldn’t move brown for that package. Need more than just thybulle as a sweetener
Celtics are playing pretty poorly with Brown and Tatum as the leaders. I think Simmons and Thybulle would be enough.
Brown is solid but very inconsistent. His averages and efficiency are all down this year
I agree the Sixers need to trade Ben before another season is lost and down the drain.
Problem is, I don’t think any of those deals get done, save for maybe the Atlanta package.
I think Philly should consider something along the lines of Malik Beasley,Jaden McDaniels,Taurean Prince, and 1 or 2 protected 1sts from the Timberwolves in exchange for Ben. It’s not Damian Lillard, but it definitely helps the Sixers now and into the future, and gives them additional trade pieces if a larger target were to become available. However, I don’t think Darryl Moreys gigantic ego would allow him to make such a deal.
Right now I would say your trade idea helps PHI simply because it ain’t Dame, right now anyone can help more than him, he is sinking POR single handedly, trading for him would mean POR adding the sweeteners for PHI to take on his mammoth contract!
Hield, Bagley and a first. The way Maxey is playing, the Sixers can consider a package without a PG, and Bagley’s future in Sacramento doesn’t seem bright even after the change of coach.
No way the Hawks make that deal. They need a secondary playmaker but they need one that can shoot. I do think the more Hunter is injured the more they’ll look at moving him in the right deal. But that ain’t the right deal.
@Simmons
It takes two to tango and I don’t think the Celtics nor Kings would bite. Last thing Celtics need is a non-shooting ball handler who is mentally soft to play point in Boston.
Doc loves Simmions situation. It literally takes pressure off him as he has excuses if they dont do well. They can play and coach freely without any pressure to win. Just pick up a check and laugh his way to the bank. His goal for the team is to stay over .500 and barely make the playoff. Lame!!
Is that you, Doc?
I read this from MSN,com
This trade makes perfect sense for Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Harrison Barnes, Buddy Hield
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Russell Westbrook, Davion Mitchell, 2023 Kings First-Round Pick, 2025 Kings First-Round Pick, 2026 Lakers First-Round Pick
Sacramento Kings Receive: Ben Simmons, Danny Green
IMO
I’d suggest that 76ers offer 2 unprotected Firsts to Kings and All Kings firsts are lottery protected.
Let’s go Kings!
That trade makes no sense for the Sixers. Russ is an absolute terrible fit. It makes even less sense for the Kings. Cut out the lakers pieces and this trade is Barnes, hield, Mitchell, and two 1sts for Simmons and green. Why do the lakers need to be involved? I would rather take the trade for the Sixers without the lakers pieces. There is zero chance the kings make that trade though. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since it’s and MSN article. I didn’t even know that still existed.
Draymond Green is a better player than Westbrook and Simmons.
Westbrook 2 year $92 million
Draymond 4 year $100 million
Simmons 4 year $147 million
Simmons has four years and $147 million remaining on his max contract.
If Draymond is huge overpaid, then ….
#FreeBenSimmons
#FreeYourMindYerAssWillFollow
Sick of hearing this “Fox for Simmons” everyone is screaming for a player that won’t fit the 76ers. Fox is about 30% from 3 most of his points are at the basket which he won’t get with embiid crowding the paint. “Year but he can shoot ft”. I’m sure he’s not much of an improvement something like 70%s I think. Simmons is a much better playmaker and a big miss in defence. Fox is a bad choice to replace. Then need to look for a PG that can shoot to compliment Joel.
Sixers need a star to demand a trade happens all the time.
DLo and Ingram are stars
Should have landed Kyle Lowry when they had the chance.
I really don’t understand why any of this is so hard. Simmons has somewhere between ZERO to Negative Value and a MAX contract. You are not going to get a Superstar for him without mortgaging the future.
I think the best and only realistic option is a deal centered around Simmons for Jamal Murray. Who knows if Murray will even play this season, but you’re in the same boat with Simmons not playing for Philly. With the luck Denver is having health wise, they are on the verge of wasting a year of Jokic’s prime.
If that ever happens I promise to pay you a 100$.