Sixers news: Joel Embiid earns Eastern Conference Player of the Week

Breakout performances are a nightly occurrence in the National Basketball Association. Displays of high athletic ability and mental toughness are par for the visual course. Consistent dominant outings attract praise from those who adore the game’s craft.

Head coach Doc Rivers and the Sixers have benefited from the play of Joel Embiid. His efficient scoring, crafty preservice, and leadership skills have earned one of the league’s highest forms of praise.

Sixers’ Joel Embiid is the most valuable player in the NBA

For players in the Association, the Player of the Week Award is an honorable achievement. Recognition for rising above the competition is accepted by those who have decided to work hard well before the season started.

Preparation has been crucial for Embiid and the Sixers this season. Before the team could determine an outcome on the scoreboard, they had to find their way out of a hold-out from one of their centerpieces. After months of discussion, the 76ers organization decided to put their off-court quarrels to the side and focus on basketball.

Leadership and courage helped  climb out from under the doubts of their naysayers. Losses to the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks shook the faith of fans who favorited Philadelphia.

When the team needed a spark, Joel Embiid was there to provide it. His thirty-point performance on Oct. 28 was the catalyst for Sixer’s six-game winning streak. Victories against Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, and Orlando Magic positioned the Sixers in reach of the first spot in the Eastern Conference.

`It’ll take perseverance. 

Challenges made it hard for the Sixers to remain consistent at the beginning of the season. As soon as the team found its groove, a setback deleted all their progress. Health and safety protocols played a large part in Philadelphia’s struggle to succeed. It also kept Embiid off the hardwood for three weeks.

While the all-star center focused on regaining his health, the Sixers needed to regain their confidence. Performances from Tyrese Maxey and help would not be enough to replace Embiid’s twenty-nine points per game. Losses soon started to pile, and the Sixers’ position in first place slowly disappeared.

Returning from battling COVID-19 was an easy task for Embiid. A forty-two-point double-double sent a message throughout the Association. His high-scoring performances would soon become more habitual as the season progressed. Key wins against the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets helped the Sixers gain needed traction on their regular season. Consistent performances can make the difference between a good player and a great player.

Joel Embiid’s perseverance and skill have earned him the Player of the Week award. Embiid’s 11.7 rebounds per game and 5.7 assists opened opportunities for other members of the Sixers to score efficiently. Performances from Embiid will have to continue to be regular showing. If the Sixers want to continue to have success this season, Joel Embiid must remain consistent.