The Philadelphia 76ers somehow managed to get spun together with some narratives in the playoffs despite them not having any sort of an active participation therein. While that may be far from the kind of relevance nearly everyone expected from the team when the season began, that at least gives fans something tangible to think of when watching the heated action in the postseason.
However, with James Harden, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, and Doc Rivers all eliminated from the playoffs, the 76ers do not really have much history subsisting with any of the players on the remaining teams. Hence, one might already say that the 76ers have finally erased their presence in the playoffs, right?
Well, not so fast. Apparently, the 76ers have something to do with one of their rival team’s rapid ascent in the playoffs thanks to an unprecedented gesture from one Joel Embiid, who has seemingly become a voice of reason while he is relegated to spectator duty.
76ers had an unexpected part in rival team’s huge leap in the playoffs
The Indiana Pacers, currently up 2-1 in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the top-seeded Clevaland Cavaliers (with Game 4 still to be played in their home floor), have definitely become the best feel-good story in the playoffs, proving that their trip to the Conference Finals last year was no fluke.
Led by a budding superstar in Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers have raced to A blazing start in the postseason, having lost just two games thus far. Yet given his individual and team success, he is not one to shy away from giving credit where it’s due, even giving a big shout-out to 76ers star Joel Embiid, who had apparently given him advice.
As everyone might already be aware of by now, Haliburton recently topped a controversial poll involving 90 NBA players where he was voted as the most overrated player in the league, fueling a heated discourse among fans, but more importantly, motivating him to lead the Pacers in their postseason rally.
“At some point, worrying about what my peers think only holds so much weight. I think my peers (whom) I really respect, that changes things. For that poll, there's no names to faces, it's all anonymous. Having relationships with guys like Jayson and Joel, who are guys that I know at the top of the game, them being honest with me, that's important. I respect their opinions more than anybody.”
Haliburton did not go further as to what he and Embiid (and Tatum) had discussed, but based on what can be inferred, the 2023 Most Valuable Player probably gave him a nice pep talk on how to handle such criticisms, having faced them themselves when the 76ers were in a bind.
For the peanut gallery, this one might definitely be aiding the enemy. The Pacers, after all, will be a perennial hurdle for all teams out East, including the 76ers. And giving Haliburton that much-needed validation has definitely given him the spark to block the outside noise and just play his game.
For now, though, all the Philadelphia 76ers can do is to marvel at what their rival team is doing right now. But when the games begin and they are on both ends of the court, you can count on Joel Embiid treating Tyrese Haliburton just like he would any other opponent (assuming he suits up, of course).