The toughness that Joel Embiid displayed in Game 3 will have to continue for the Sixers to have any chance to win their series with New York, writes Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Despite dealing with the pain of a surgically repaired left knee and the difficulties brought on by a mild case of Bell’s palsy, Embiid set a career playoff high with 50 points in Thursday’s crucial victory.
With two days to rest before the series resumes Sunday, Embiid is embracing the challenges of playoff basketball, no matter what physical ailments he has to overcome.
“I want to play as much as possible. I only have about, maybe, eight years left. So I have to enjoy this as much as possible and I want to win,” he said. “I’m just trying to keep pushing. I’m not going to quit. If it’s on one leg, I’m still going to go out there and try, but that’s not an excuse. Got to keep playing better, and better, and better.”
After Game 3, Embiid called the Bell’s palsy “an unfortunate situation” and told reporters, including Tim Bontemps of ESPN, that it started with migraine headaches shortly before Philadelphia’s play-in game last week. He explained that the condition sometimes causes blurred vision, and he frequently has to put drops in left eye to keep it from drying out.
“It’s pretty annoying, you know, with the left side of my face, my mouth and my eye. So yeah, it’s been tough,” Embiid said. “But I’m not a quitter, so gotta keep fighting. But yeah, it’s unfortunate. That’s the way I look at it. But it’s not an excuse. Gotta keep pushing.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- Kelly Oubre responded to the Knicks‘ complaints about officiating after Game 3, per Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire. In addition to a free throw disparity, New York players were upset about a Flagrant 1 foul that Embiid committed when he grabbed Mitchell Robinson‘s leg, with Donte DiVincenzo calling it a “dirty play.” Oubre said he has been on the receiving end of that type of contact and doesn’t consider it dirty. He also called for a focus on basketball instead of threats of retaliation. “It’s like, let’s just hoop,” Oubre said at today’s practice. “Let’s go out there and play hard and nobody’s gonna fight. This ain’t WWE. So at the end of the day, stand on the stuff that’ll say so we’ll see tomorrow how they react.”
- Philadelphia police are conducting an internal investigation into whether Oubre received preferential treatment following his auto accident early Tuesday morning, tweets Michael J. Babcock of TMZ Sports. Oubre, who is accused of running a red light and hitting another car, wasn’t cited or given a sobriety test or breathalyzer.
- Buddy Hield played just four minutes in Game 3 and appears to have been replaced in the rotation by Cameron Payne, notes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Hield didn’t get off the bench after the first quarter, while Payne contributed 11 points and three assists in nearly 16 minutes. Hield has been a disappointment since being acquired from Indiana at the deadline, and Pompey suggests the Sixers would probably rather have Marcus Morris, who was shipped to San Antonio in the three-team trade.
Hield’s been a disappointment since he’s come over from Indy? He’s playing exactly as he has his whole career, great shooter who does nothing else on the court. He’s Matt Ryan with a longer track record and a bigger salary. Why is anyone surprised that he’s not contributing in the Playoffs, a time of year where his game doesn’t fit.
Not arguing against it, but losing your rotation spot to Cam Payne is tough to swallow in any context.
Embiid might’ve tough playing through injury and the Bells Palsy thing but his game is not at all tough.
He used to be a force in the paint with guard like skills but since James Harden has come and gone all he does now is cry for foul calls and go to the line. It helped him win and MVP but come the playoffs it doesn’t help you win games. Refs let games be more physical in the post season and because of that, the Sixers whinged the first two games and by game 3 we finally got regular season treatment. It’s not going to win you a championship being so reliant on the refs.
Embiid is fully capable of being this unstoppable force, we have seen it but he chooses to play this style and I know what the result will be…
50 points on a bum leg wasn’t good enough for you?
Philly isn’t winning anything this year, but to act like Embiid is the problem is ridiculous.
He’s the centre piece of a team that has championship aspirations being lead by a guy we know can’t take us there.
Some teams/fans are happy to sit back and are happy with continued playoff runs with little success but a lot more have higher expectations and standards and want to win a ring. That’s the difference.
As I said he’s a heck of a player, when he wants to be, and I give him credit for playing through injuries and what not but in terms of how he plays the game, I don’t like it and it’s not going to be successful
Let’s just hoop? How about lets just drive…to the basket, TP. You and cars don’t seem to mix!
Got hit by a car ……. now he hits with a car.
All early in the morning. Then cries and talks. Now acuses Knicks of crying. After Embiid does his dirty work. Embiid should have been thrown out. Imagine Mitch did that to him.
I know Knicks want this gm. So this should be a very competitive gm. Best way to shut the Crybabies from Philly UP. Is to win gm4. Should be a good one.