He may have been crowned MVP, but Joel Embiid’s average playoff run comes in as a concern for the Philadelphia 76ers as they stake a claim for the NBA championship.
The ongoing postseason sees the center average 18.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, a far cry from his regular season numbers that read 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. From a career playoffs perspective, this season also sees him average the lowest
Here’s a quick look at his playoff numbers so far in his career with the Sixers:
2017-18: 21.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
2018-19: 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
2019-20: 30.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
2020-21: 28.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
2021-22: 23.6 points, 10.7 points, and 2.1 assists.
2022-23: 18.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists
Overall, the big man averages 23.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in the 48 games he has played in the playoffs in his career.
The current season saw him be electric in the regular season, but his production has seen a nosedive. To put things in perspective, MVP runner-up Nikola Jokic is averaging 27.7 points, 13.9 points, and 7.9 assists for the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs.
While it’s understandable that Embiid is injured, and his knee sprain kept him out of action for Game 1 against the Boston Celtics, he could perhaps do a bit more of gutting his teeth and playing through the pain. Maybe, taking a leaf out of Jimmy Butler’s notebook, who played with a rolled ankle against the New York Knicks.
For now, it’s James Harden who did the heavy lifting in the first round and even in the first skirmish, and perhaps Embiid will pull out of his slump and give Harden the much-needed assistance rather than banking on him to pull the Sixers across the finish line.
Can Joel Embiid Take The Philadelphia 76ers The Distance This Season?
Joel Embiid finally realized his dream of becoming MVP, but this postseason is far from done, and the Sixers will need him to be on top of his game.
To start with, he will need to take the team to the Conference Finals, which will mark his maiden appearance at that stage. In the nine years he has been the league, Embiid has never made it past the second round.
The Celtics matchup also promises to be a rough one, especially with the center not at his 100%. Not to forget the rivalry between the two sides. Now that he’s played Game 2, the team will hope he will be there for the remainder of the games and close out a series win.
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.
