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NEW YORK – Up to now, there is no way to predict whether Joel Embiid will play a playoff game.
He was doubtful in the first game, but played. He was questionable in the second game and played. He was questionable and said his knee felt better before the match, but he did not play in the third match.
So naturally, with his dubious odds, he played and was absolutely gorgeous in the 4: 6-10 win of the 112 against the Nets at Barclays Center on Saturday. (see comments).
After playing only 10 minutes in the first half, Embiid played 21 minutes out of 24 in the second half. He finished with 31 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and six blocks. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1974, by reference to basketball, is the only other player to have scored this line of statistics in a playoff game.
"Just look at the magnitude of what the numbers say, the influence that the numbers say that he had to have on a match," Brown said. "It's hard to say better than that. He was dominant.
"There are times when we can see that it's still raw. He would probably like to have some more decisions to make, but given the amount of play time he has not had recently, it's a dominant performance. What more can you say? "
Beyond the numbers, Embiid was a force at both ends of the ground. His physical presence has been difficult to manage for the Nets, especially young center Jarrett Allen.
Embiid was flagrantly ranked 1 in the second game after bending Allen's neck during the transfer to the basket. On Saturday, Allen drove up to the rim and was met by Embiid who was called for a foul. Veteran Jared Dudley, who became the No. 1 public enemy in Philadelphia, objected to the contact and was sued after Embiid. Jimmy Butler is in turn rushed on Dudley.
Butler and Dudley both received a double technique and were ejected, while Embiid received another flagrant 1. It should be noted that the league uses a points system with flagrant fouls. Embiid is two points. Four points and he will be suspended automatically for a match, but the league could cancel the flagrant 1 of Saturday.
Embiid was an inflexible postgame that earned him "the whole ball".
"I'm not that type of player," said Embiid. "All chances that I get to try to pick up the ball and if I feel that I have made a mistake, I always apologize. At the same time, it's also a mind game. I know these guys are going to attack me because they want me to retaliate, so I have to be a mature man on the ground, stay calm and not react. Today, I knew I could have reacted, but I felt that my team needed me more than [the Nets] need Jared Dudley. "
It's a euphemism, especially on Saturdays.
The Sixers were able to win the third match without Embiid. Boban Marjanovic achieved his third consecutive performance. Marjanovic came back to earth in the fourth game. Brown has also been trying to recruit recruits Jonah Bolden and Greg Monroe to give Embiid more rest. It did not work.
Brown was forced to ride his big man All-Star, who always seems to be at the heart of the action.
"He has a wit in him – that's the word I've chosen to use," Brown said. "There is a belief, there is a swagger, there is a mind – choose the word you want. He has this personality. And then you say he's incredibly physical. You take 7 feet 2 inches and you have that kind of dynamic personality, your way of living your life and playing basketball. You are completely physical and very competitive. This produces environments like this one.
"As a coach, you would not trade much for nothing. It's a rare combination of talent, personality and innate competitiveness. "
What's crazy is that, as big as Embiid is offensive, you can argue the argument even better in defense. He was from another world in this one with these six blocks and offered an exceptional help defense throughout the afternoon.
With the way Ben Simmons played against Angelo Russell in this series, the combination of Embiid and Simmons neutralized Brooklyn's coming-and-going – not a phrase that we've got. Was waiting to knock while the Sixers get burned in Atlanta by Trae Jeune just a few weeks ago.
But it was the regular season. The post-season is a completely different animal since young Nets discover the difficulty.
There is one thing that has not changed compared to the regular season at the Sixers. The offensive strategy remains the same.
Get the balloon to Embiid.
"The game plan has always been the same," said Embiid. "I just have to be aggressive. These guys are trying to find me every way possible … just have to play through the system. They want me to be aggressive. At any time [Brown] get a chance to post, he does. For me, you just have to be aggressive all the time and they do a great job of finding me. "
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