Joel Embiid makes Sixers the championship contender that they were supposed to be | Bleacher's report

PHILADELPHIA – Fourteen minutes after the final ring signaling the 122-1 win of 122 in Philadelphia against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, a smiling smile, Joel Embiid, came out of the locker room. He wore a black hoodie with a cartoon image of his girlfriend, Illustrated Sports Model Anne de Paula swimsuit, glued to the front.

"Can I take this golf cart?" he asked, pointing to an inactive vehicle parked on the other side of the corridor.

Shortly after, the Sixers' center of stars passed over cables and sailed the corridors of the Wells Fargo center. He stopped to say to The head coach of the nets, Kenny Atkinson, then Slowly picked up speed, hissing by half a dozen smiling arena workers before stopping in front of the media room.

He told reporters that he thought himself "the best defensive player in the league," quote Joel Embiid very highly to cap off a very Joel Embiid night, with 23 points and 13 rebounds in just 20 minutes. go with some crooked sarcasm.

Only five days earlier, a persistent knee injury prevented Embiid from participating in the third day. The series was tied at one game each, and for a moment it seemed like a promising Sixers season could be played out. the edge of collapse.

Not even a week has passed since then, and yet, everything about these Sixers feels different. Rome does not burn anymore. The sky does not fall anymore.

Embiid might not be 100%. But Tuesday night, a match after crashing the Nets with a 31 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, six blocks, he once again looked like the MVP candidate that he spent a good part of the season.

But it's not just the Game 5 numbers that stand out; That was the way Embiid looked while posting these statistics.

He intimidated the nets by mail. He flew in the path for slams. He gently ran and jumped and danced. His defense was brilliant, his feet were dangling. On the one hand, he would challenge a net shooter at the edge; the next day he would trick a Brooklyn player into a misguided deluge into a misplaced big player.

"I have not finished the regular season, so I just want to regain my pace, my health and do the right things, but I think it works," said Embiid afterwards. "I still have a long way to go, but as long as I'm alive, I have to keep pushing."

The Sixers can boast of having five stars in mind, but it's Embiid that makes them special. He is the one who raises them in a championship contender. It is he who validates everything that they have endured since former General Manager Sam Hinkie started the process six years ago.

Embiid is bigger than anyone as fast as he is, faster than anyone the size of him, and more talented than almost every player in the league. It is the closest thing that the NBA has seen in Shaquille O. Neal in the last 10 years. He is perhaps the most powerful defensive player in the league. His dunks and blocks stand out, certainly, but the same goes for its impact on the game. His presence hovers over the court like a shadow, a shadow that his opponents can not shake.

Certainly, victories in the first round are expected for this team. It is now that work begins for Embiid and the Sixers.

Philly will face in the second round an explosive and explosive team from the Toronto Raptors, consisting of Marc Gasol's center bull, a player Embiid has already defeated. We have also seen this movie before.

Last year at the same time, many of us encouraged the Sixers to become favorites of the Eastern Conference. Then they separated against the Boston Celtics, ravaged by the injury.

"I have the impression that this team is better than the team last year," said Embiid. "Entering this series (second round), it's a little different.I saw it, it's the second time I'm here.Last year, we were a little too confident. "

In the end, everything in Philadelphia will depend on Embiid's health. With him and on the ground, the Sixers can go out anybody. If he's unable to play in his best light, Tuesday may be the last time the Sixers celebrate this season.

"We think we can win everything," said Embiid to the press.

A few minutes later, Embiid removed his 7-foot frame from the chair and got off the podium. He left the golf cart behind him and cautiously walked beside his agent towards the locker room, strong enough to carry himself and the Sixers in front of him.

Yaron Weitzman covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow Yaron on Twitter, @YaronWeitzmanand sign up for his newsletter right here.