Release Embiist!
Will Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid play in a crucial Game 2 versus the Miami Heat?
A controversy is brewing in Philadelphia. Tied at one game apiece, with the Eastern Conference quarterfinals moving to Miami for the next two games, will the Philadelphia 76ers activate their All-Star center, Joel Embiid?
After a bruising Game 2, in which the Heat turned up the heat defensively (I couldn’t resist) with full-court pressure and a physicality designed to challenge the Sixers’ manhood, Joel Embiid ignited the sparks by posting this on his Instagram account:
"“F*****g sick and tired of being babied.”"
As I was driving in to work this morning listening to 94.1 SportsRadio, host Angelo Cataldi was interviewing Jon Johnson about the Embiid situation. I’ll paraphrase. as it’s not safe to jot down notes while operating a motor vehicle on I-295.
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Johnson said the Sixers have essentially provided no medical update on Embiid, that he’s “still not cleared for contact”, and that Johnson thinks Embiid is about a 50-50 proposition to play on Thursday night.
Cataldi went on a highly entertaining rant about how the Sixers organization has no respect for the fans who fill the building every night, and it’s their obligation to provide us with more information. I agree. Is he medically cleared to play? Or is he being babied by an organization that feels no duty to inform its loyal customers? We need answers.
And the Sixers need a win. Miami claimed home-court advantage with Monday night’s bruising 113-103 victory in Philadelphia. They seized momentum.
The Sixers need to counter that, and Embiid’s presence in Game 3, while not an elixir, will certainly move the needle back in the Sixers’ direction. As a defensive force, Embiid is truly a beast. He has the natural, aggressive shot blocking instincts and ability to change a game. Embiid looming in the painted area is a lot different than Amir Johnson or Ersan Ilyasova protecting the rim.
On offensive Embiid’s low-post game and 22.9 point per game will present problems for Miami. They won’t have the luxury of committing all out to defend the perimeter against threes. They’’ll have to sag in when the ball is dumped to Embiid down low and likely double team. That should translate to open looks for the Sixers shooters, which they need to knock down after an awful 7-36 three-point shooting percentage in Game 2.
Miami has turned this into a competitive series. Embiid, as he often does, has heightened the drama.
Big game coming up on Thursday night. The Sixers have a beast on their bench. Will he play? Your guess is as good as mine.