Joel Embiid’s evolution is undeniable. The Philadelphia 76ers superstar has done incredible things this season, taking his game to the next level, recording an MVP-caliber season at Wells Fargo Center.
That stage is over and Joel is getting ready to face the first big obstacle on his way to the 2022 NBA championship, the Toronto Raptors. Although he’s stated that he enjoys playing against the Canadian team, Embiid knows they are a dangerous team that could take them out if they don’t make the right plays.
On the other side, the Raptors know they are facing one of the best players in the world right now, and they’re taking this series very seriously. Still, that doesn’t mean they will downplay their rivals. In fact, Fred VanVleet recently praised Embiid, explaining the evolution of the center from the last time they clashed in the postseason (2019).
He went from being somebody that played close to the rim, but now has a bigger arsenal to beat rivals, even comparing him to some of the most dominant scorers in NBA history.
“He was more back to the basket (in 2019), playing like a 5. Now he’s turned into Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, Kobe, Shaq all put together.”
VanVleet on Embiid: "He was more back to the basket (in 2019), playing like a 5. Now he's turned into Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, Kobe, Shaq all put together."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 14, 2022
This series appears to be one of the most entertaining in the Eastern Conference, maybe competing with the Boston Celtics-Brooklyn Nets showdown. The Sixers have some pressure to win after last year’s exit and the fact that they traded for James Harden to win the title once and for all.
The Raptors surprised everybody with their campaign. The front office keeps making good moves, Nick Nurse keeps showing he’s one of the top candidates in the league and the team stays competitive no matter who plays and who doesn’t. Embiid will try to get revenge after that infamous 2019 series, but we have to wait and see how this matchup ends up.
