Joel Embiid took to the court as an MVP for the first time in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics. He put up 30 points on the night, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Sixers from losing.
Joel Embiid is no stranger to seeing his teammates wilt in the playoffs, it happened spectacularly in the case of Ben Simmons. And after a stellar Game 1, James Harden has struggled in the following two games. So Joel Embiid’s postgame comments sound like a bit of a shot at his teammate.
When asked about basketball around this time of the year, Embiid said, “I think players have to show up.”
“I think players have to show up.”
– Joel Embiid on playing around this time of the year
(h/t @therealmikekb ) pic.twitter.com/w5MWGgKtgG
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 6, 2023
Normally, a statement like this would seem innocuous, it’s not secret that NBA players are measured by what they can achieve in the postseason more than anything else. However, when it comes in the context of a big loss, one in which a star teammate struggled for the second game in a row, it’s hard not to see it as something that means a little more.
James Harden scored 16 points in Game 3, but he shot an abysmal 3-14 from the floor. This comes on the back of a 2-14 shooting display in Game 2, when he failed to make a single three-pointer. For a second star, and one that showed how great he can still be in Game 1, following it up by going 5-28 for a total of 28 points in the next two games is truly embarrassing.
James Harden Needs To Harness The Superstar Energy From His Game 1 Performance Again
This series started on an incredible note for Harden, who scored 45 points to steal a win without Joel Embiid in Game 1. He shot over 50% from the field and ran the whole offense. Things are different with Joel Embiid on the floor, but the Beard will certainly need to be more aggressive if the Sixers are going to get past the Celtics.
James Harden got flamed for his Game 3 performance by fans, and he should know that he is under scrutiny once again. This is the best chance the Sixers will have of making it to the NBA Finals. If they can beat the Boston Celtics, Harden might finally have a huge chance at getting the championship ring he has craved for so long.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
