Joel Embiid has been one of the most controversial players in the NBA Playoffs for his action in the first-round series against the New York Knicks. Embiid has been called out multiple times for playing too aggressively and carelessly, handing out cheap shots to Knicks players across the first four games.
A fan has put together a ‘cheap shot’ highlight tape of Embiid showing some of his most aggressive plays so far.
Cheap shot highlight tape in one series is nasty work pic.twitter.com/K0dtii68B4
— B.W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) April 28, 2024
During Game 4, Embiid had another incredibly dangerous moment where he blocked Josh Hart and stomped on the forward twice while falling to the ground.
The second step?? pic.twitter.com/H0967BG5bF
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) April 28, 2024
There was another play on which Embiid set a screen off which Jalen Brunson tripped on his leg, resulting in Kyle Lowry heaving a shot and getting a 3-point foul.
Very clearly a typical basketball play lol pic.twitter.com/iw2fDlHrED
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) April 28, 2024
More fans put together a more complete list of dangerous plays from Embiid featuring older players from the regular season and previous playoff appearances.
yo wake up babe new Embiid edit just dropped pic.twitter.com/HlhrYwSo2B
— KlawWrld (@kawhi_ring) April 28, 2024
The way Embiid has been fouling players is getting ridiculous. The complete lack of repercussions is even more mind-blowing, as Embiid leads the league in free throws per game (14.8 FTA) through the first round.
The Sixers’ grievance worked LMAO pic.twitter.com/t71bGTPmqn
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) April 26, 2024
Embiid also had an incredibly rough play on Mitchell Robinson, which led to the Knicks center worsening a surgically-operated ankle injury that kept him out for most of the season.
Joel Embiid Has Been Flopping Throughout The Playoffs
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/iiWFXfNyG7
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) April 26, 2024
A high free throw rate has always been important to Embiid’s effectiveness on the court. That style has caused his downfall in previous matchups as well, but this year’s playoffs have seen him get free throws at a near-historic rate. A lot of this has been achieved through exaggeration of contact. While people are insisting it’s just a part of the game, shooting almost 15 free throws a game should be unacceptable.
His per-game free throws far outweigh anyone else in the NBA, with the second-place Devin Booker shooting 10.3 free throws per game. The NBA’s recent crackdown on free throws has led to calls becoming harder to gain, which has led to Embiid becoming even more egregious.
It seems quite twisted when you see clips of Embiid barrelling into Knicks players and equivalent foul calls aren’t handed out. Meanwhile, Isaiah Hartenstein is picking up five fouls in a quarter for just touching Embiid’s hip on possessions. It’s not attractive basketball and explains why the 76ers are down 3-1 in this series.
The refs didn’t fall for Joel Embiid’s flop so he started tackling people lmao 😭😭https://t.co/fWP6RolffM
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) April 26, 2024
Embiid is inarguably one of the best players in the NBA. He would have walked his way to the MVP if he stayed healthy and was single-handedly winning Philadelphia games. His status as one of the premier players in the NBA isn’t in question, but his flopping habits have become impossible to ignore. His testament to the game is seeing him play through a knee injury and Bell’s Palsy, but that doesn’t justify his quite egregious behavior on the court in the playoffs.
Maybe it’s his incredible talent that makes watching these games even more frustrating, as Embiid has gotten away with playing more physically than others around him while still gaining the benefits of mass free-throw attempts.
The game is the game and Embiid is trying to maximize what the referees allow him to do within the legal context of the game. Unless referees step in themselves, there won’t be any change in how he attacks games.
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