Sixers center Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy less than a month ago, grimaced after taking a shot to his midsection from Knicks forward Mikal Bridges during Monday’s Game 1 loss (Twitter video link). Asked about it after the game, Embiid stopped short of calling the contact “dirty,” but questioned whether it was necessary within the flow of the play.
“I don’t know if it was dirty or not,” Embiid said, per Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). “I guess I’ve got to do a better job of protecting, especially that part (of my body). … I just felt like it wasn’t necessary, but we move on. It is whatever. It’s playoff basketball. If that’s the reality of it, I guess we got to go out and be physical, too, and do it too.”
We have more from around the Atlantic:
- Sixers head coach Nick Nurse is currently away from the team in order to mourn his older brother, who unexpectedly passed away last week, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. Nurse attending the funeral service in his hometown of Carroll, Iowa and is expected to rejoin the 76ers in time for Wednesday’s Game 2 in New York, Jones adds.
- After battling heel inflammation near the end of the regular season and in the playoffs, Raptors forward Brandon Ingram is visiting a specialist this week to discuss the treatment plan for the injury, head coach Darko Rajakovic said on Tuesday (Twitter link via Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca). Both Ingram and guard Immanuel Quickley, who missed the entire first round due to a hamstring strain, expect to be back on the court within three or four weeks and shouldn’t have their offseason routines significantly impacted by their health issues.
- Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (subscription required) takes stock of where the Celtics‘ roster stands entering the offseason, writing that all indications point to head coach Joe Mazzulla being back on the sidelines next season. As for center Nikola Vucevic, the only player on the 15-man roster without a guaranteed contract or option for next season, Himmelsbach says Vucevic will have to take a sizable pay cut no matter where he ends up, adding that he won’t be surprised if the big man doesn’t return to Boston.
Simons for Vucevic trade was horrible
True !! It’s crazy that there’s a bunch of fans, including those of my warriors, who INSISTED they trade for Vooch. When I kept mentioning the guy was a dud and wouldn’t help the Warriors at all, I got lambasted again.
Along the same lines did anyone notice that in week’s Spurs game K. Olynyk, B. Biyombo, and M. Plumlee never got off the bench? 3 centers, 3 DNP’s
Yep signing those centers is a must according to some fans. Then they double down and say,
“well maybe not in the regular season so much but you’ll need them in the playoffs !!!”
Horrible and irrelevant.
We gave up a 14 ppg off the bench for Vuc. Steven’s worst trade since the Desmond Bane trade on draft night for Enes Kanter.
Simons wasn’t going to move the needle for them, and they got under the cap with the trade which is why they did it. Pretty much everyone knows both of those things.
I always love how people say Stevens was dumb for drafting Bane and trading him but no one ever mentions the other 29 GMS that passed on drafting him.
Vucevic was hurt. And hardly played in playoffs.
Garza was better in gm7. Celtics weren’t built for playoffs. Shooting threes only works when they go in.
Crazy old Abe once again confusing himself with random memories that never happened.
Luke Garza: Game 7 stats.
9 minutes
0 points
0 rebounds
0/2 FG
3 Personal Fouls
“Garza was better in G7”.
WHAT?????
As a sixers fan I don’t think it was dirty. It’s sixers vs Knicks, you know going in it’s going to be harder contact than normal. I didn’t see a issue with it
It’s playoff basketball and a hard screen. It’s tough and given his surgery has to hurt. But move on. Embiid injured Mitchell Robinson a few years ago on a dirty play so he’s smart to not say much here.
He did move on, but the reporter asked
I’m not saying he didn’t move on. I even said he was smart not to say much. I’m giving him credit, not ripping him.
Condolences to Nurse and his family. Can’t imagine going through that let alone in the middle of the playoffs when you can’t properly grieve.
Embid has no standing to label any play dirty. Not after his takedown of Mitch from behind two years ago.
As for Bridges, any NYK fan who’s been paying attention knows he doesn’t play dirty. In part, because he’s a genuinely nice guy. But also because he doesn’t care enough about the result to play dirty.
Too freakin nice lol …..
You mute me yet you troll me. You related to raz.
Stop lying in here. I never muted you. You aren’t worthy of such compliments.
you’re wrong if you think Bridges doesn’t care.
Everyone cares, it’s about what and how much. Bridges cares about his teammates (and doing his job). The game result, not as much as most of his teammates. BUT more than KAT. Look, those are the two guys you want as neighbors.
Embiid never said it was dirty. He was asked, didn’t bring up. Said the screen probably was unnecessary in the scope of the play. As far as Bridges being nice… he hates the Sixers for trading him. In fact I do too and you don’t know him so I wouldn’t speak on one’s character.
Amazing how a guy has a few good games. And we forget about all the years he’s blown. You know who could of kept Embiid in chk is Kornet. But 10 mill was too much.
Embiid is done. Knicks abused him like a worn dummy. Just like Tatum wore out. Embiid is done. Knicks are best team in East right now. No used to be, or has beens. Going to do anything against our D. Every team looks good when their shots are dropping. Knicks team D right now is in elite level. It’s all about team effort and commitment. Knicks have woken up. And now we have the bench to backup the starters. This is a 2way team sport. And Knicks are the team to beat now.
There is a troll clown on here. Who says Knicks don’t have a bench. Obviously he is stuck on 2025. Knicks are playing their best ball at right time. That’s how you look at the playoffs. Knicks still have players who haven’t shown up yet. Thats called Depth. Sixers gave it all last series. I don’t like predicting. I want this over as soon as possible. Embiid and George need to be reminded. We play 82 gms to get here. There are no short cuts to winning in playoffs. So get your fishing gear ready.
Do you wake up every day thinking about how best to trash Embiid?
Yes every min …
Takes 2sec to talk about a guy who doesn’t play. Came into league hurt. And always cries for money and attention.
Cries for attention… like you?
Nice to have inflated bench stats when you win by 38.
Prove me wrong Abe.
How can I trash Joel today. Hmm….
He does it to himself. I could care less if he plays or not. Not my money he steals. Are you even a Sixer fan
Love this ass backwards logic from you considering a terrible player will have one good game and you proclaim them to be the best player on the planet.