Joel Embiid got real about Jayson Tatum’s success with the Boston Celtics, revealing on a podcast that he’s told Tatum that he doesn’t have the luxury of going 5-20 in a game because it leads to a blowout loss for the 76ers.
“I tell him the same thing. If I go 5-20, we get blown out.”
Joel Embiid says Jayson Tatum has a super team
“If I go 5-20, we get blown out.”
(🎥 @TheCheckBall / h/t @EmbiidIsHere ) pic.twitter.com/UlatEiNycU
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 24, 2024
When it comes to individual player ability, very few would be able to firmly say Tatum is a better player than Embiid. He might be better-rounded and more impactful due to his versatility as a forward, but we haven’t seen Tatum be capable of replicating Embiid’s production. The 76ers also need every last point Embiid puts up as the face of their franchise.
The 76ers went 31-8 when Embiid was available last season, showing his incredible impact on the franchise when available. Tatum is a far more durable player, so he deserves credit for being available enough to lead his team to success. But the 2024 Playoffs saw Tatum’s Celtics go 6-0 in games he shot under 40% from the field, a stat that few other superstars can afford to have by their name in a Playoff run.
Jayson Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists last season, being named to the All-NBA First Team.
Embiid was injured for most of the year but averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in the 39 games he played. He was the league MVP the season before and was on track to retain that crown through the first few months of last season.
Joel Embiid Said The Celtics Dominated The 2024 Playoffs Because Everyone Was Hurt
Embiid is casually referring to the Celtics as a superteam after the NBA Finals were done and dusted, with Boston celebrating the city’s 18th NBA Championship after beating the Dallas Mavericks. As the Finals were going on, Embiid appeared on ESPN during one of the games and dismissed the notion of the Celtics being a dynasty due to the new CBA and the injuries across the East.
“I don’t think so, not with the new CBA. You also gotta understand, the whole East was hurt, myself included. It’s a pretty good chance I’m coming next year.”
The first point has already been refuted, as the Celtics have doubled down on violating the CBA’s second apron rules by paying every extension-eligible player they could with long-term contracts. The current ownership will be selling the team soon, so the salary issues and CBA ramifications are something the next team owner will have to deal with.
The injuries are incontrovertible, as the Celtics beat the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler in the first round before overcoming a Cavaliers team in the second round who lost Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. Other non-Celtics matchups were also impacted by injury, as the Indiana Pacers overcame the Milwaukee Bucks due to injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
The Knicks made the most of an injured Joel Embiid and the 76ers in the first round before falling victim to their own injury woes with Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Julius Randle to the Pacers, who’d lose Tyrese Haliburton to injury in the Conference Finals.
Injuries are unavoidable, and the Celtics made the most of it. It’s time for Embiid to at least put himself in a position to take advantage of other teams falling apart due to injuries.
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