Superstar Joel Embiid is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world, and he won the 2022-23 MVP. However, the center has notably lacked playoff success, being the only MVP in NBA history to never reach the Conference Finals.
Gilbert Arenas has recently claimed that the reason that Joel Embiid can’t win at the highest level in the playoffs, is because he is out of shape. Arenas pointed out that Joel Embiid often plays poorly in the fourth quarter.
“He needs to be accountable for his fourth-quarter performances, he always tires out,” said Arenas. “He’s in shape in his style of playing. Workout style, pump fake, pump fake, drive. He’s not in shape Game 7 in shape. He ain’t Eastern Conference in shape. He ain’t championship in shape. He’s in shape to go through the first two rounds, fourth quarter he starts dying out. Every f***ing year. He doesn’t understand that to reach another level you have to do other things.”
Gilbert Arenas says Joel Embiid is overweight and that’s the reason why he can’t win pic.twitter.com/2q9tSdBIxa
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There is no doubt that, at times, Joel Embiid’s motor can let him down. We have seen the Boston Celtics hunt him multiple times on defense throughout their second-round series against the 76ers, and it is clear that he looked tired at times. Hopefully, we see him improve in that department, and perhaps Gilbert Arenas is right in saying that being in better shape can take Joel Embiid to the next level as a player.
In the playoffs, Joel Embiid averaged 23.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 2.8 BPG for the Philadelphia 76ers. There is no doubt that these numbers are lower than his regular season averages of 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 4.2 APG. He has the highest PPG drop from the regular season to the playoffs from an MVP in NBA history. Hopefully, one day, we’ll see Joel Embiid dominate in the playoffs and make a deep run.
Joel Embiid Called Out His 76ers Teammates After Team Lost To Celtics
After the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round, Joel Embiid called out his teammates, pointing out that he and James Harden cannot win by themselves, noting that everyone has to “find ways to be better.”
“Me and James, we can’t win alone. That’s why basketball is played five-on-five. We need everybody to find ways to be better.”
Though it is true that losing like winning is a team affair, at some point, stars also have to step up. Joel Embiid and James Harden both had poor outings in Game 7, and it is fair for them to get some criticism about their performances as well.
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