Embiid addresses his return, motivation from Bam, strategy against Heat and a fan issue
As Joel Embiid watched his 76ers wither in the first two games of this playoff series - and Bam Adebayo punish his team with 47 points and 21 rebounds in those games - Philadelphia’s MVP candidate became increasingly agitated.
“It was very annoying [watching the first two games],” Embiid said late Friday night, after delivering 18 points and 11 rebounds and an emotional lift to his team in a 99-79 win against the Heat in Game 3, a victory that positioned the 76ers to tie this best-of-seven series with a win on Sunday night at Philadelphia.
“We didn’t make a lot of shots, made a lot of mistakes. Bam was dominating. I was really pissed off watching another big guy play well against my team.”
So once he cleared concussion protocol on Thursday, Embiid knew it was time to return. He said he always knew he would play at some point in this playoff series, despite having two significant medical issues: a fractured orbital bone (the more significant injury) and a torn ligament in a finger.
But the fact the 76ers were down 0-2 accelerated the timetable.
“If we had been up 2-0, I’m not sure,” he said. “That gives me more time to get back to myself. but this fracture is not going to heal for a couple weeks. It’s not going to change anything in my life if I play now or in Game 3. I have to do as much as I can to protect it as much as possible. Down 2-0, I had to do everything possible to be out there no matter how I was feeling. I’m just glad we got the win.”
Wearing a cumbersome mask to protect his orbital fracture, Embiid motioned for a towel twice in the first three minutes to wipe the perspiration from his face. Did the mask affect him?
“I airballed a wide open shot, so that’s the answer to that question,” he said.
But he said the experience of playing with a mask was different than when he returned during the 76ers’ first-round playoff series win against the Heat in 2018.
“Four years ago, I really complained about it,” he said. “It’s a little different this year because I don’t have to wear goggles. Those were really annoying. It’s still a big adjustment. But it starts on defense and defense I don’t really need to see anything. Offensively you need to be able to see to knock down shots. I’m fine.”
Teammates expressed admiration afterward.
“He’s a warrior and he’s shown that time and time again,” 76ers forward Danny Green said. “His ability to protect the rim, draw double teams, even when he’s not feeling like himself. I’m hoping he gets his rhythm soon. We’re going to need him. I can’t imagine playing with a mask. Hopefully he gets used to it and gets back to his normal self. Even when he’s not his normal self, he [makes a big impact].”
Doc Rivers said Embiid’s impact transcended the numbers.
“Just his presence to start the game,” Rivers said. “His energy, his rebounding, his ability at the basket. You could see his timing was off a little bit. But his presence defensively, I don’t think he gets enough credit for how good of a defense player he is and how much he helps us.”
Embiid’s presence contributed to Adebayo’s worst night of the playoffs: nine points (on 2 for 9 shooting), just three rebounds in 34 minutes, one assist and one turnover.
What did the 76ers do to Adebayo?
“Getting to the ball even more and not let [him get] easy catches,” Embiid said. “And being aggressive on their main scorers, which are obviously Tyler [Herro] and Jimmy [Butler]. Jimmy got going [33 points]. Definitely got to do a better job on them. On their main scorers, we were more aggressive trapping or getting the ball out of their hands and letting everyone else beat us.”
Butler said: “You add Jo to any team, home or away, the game and the scouting report, it changes drastically. He’s been like that for his entire career.”
Embiid emerged feeling “pretty good.”
He said the past week “was a struggle really because of the concussion and dealing with the symptoms. But I’m glad it went away and I’m glad I’m back. It was fun. I didn’t think I had a lot of energy. I was really trying to get through it and use my presence as a decoy. I feel like what I pride myself on is really defensively and I feel that is where my presence is really felt. “
Embiid sustained the injury from an inadvertent elbow from Pascal Siakam with the 76ers ahead by 29 late in its Game 6 series-closeout win against Toronto.
“I don’t think it was intentional,” he said. “That’s my guy. I more irritated by [the Toronto fans]. I always thought they had great fans. It kind of changed my mind about their fans up there.”
Embiid then delivered a short soliloquy on fans feeling more comfortable directing a common expletive toward players, just as Raptors fans did.
“The fans feel it’s OK to say ‘F somebody,’” Embiid said. “There are bunch of kids in the arena. I don’t think it should be OK, even if there aren’t kids. If you respond, the league fines you. It doesn’t bother [me]. I’m speaking for everybody in the NBA. If you give it, you have to be able to take it.”
Embiid said the 76ers can’t feel comfortable even after winning a game.
“We’re down 2-1; we have a long way to go,” he said. “We can’t go down 3-1. We really need to win this game Sunday….We have a big chance to win it all… We have to be damn near perfect. To me, that’s what I signed up for.”
This story was originally published May 7, 2022 at 9:47 AM.
