The Philadelphia 76ers are in disarray. After an abysmal 2-12 start for the season, there are serious questions being asked of the 76ers. Given the talent on the roster, they shouldn’t be where they are right now. And after a team meeting’s details got leaked, Joel Embiid is even angrier, calling out the leak, and expressing annoyance over dealing with the same issues over and over again.
“Whoever leaked that [team meeting] is a real piece of sh*t.”
This team meeting reportedly took place after the Philadelphia 76ers’ 106-89 loss to the Miami Heat. Tyrese Maxey is said to have called out Joel Embiid, holding him accountable for being late to team activities, with the exact wording of what Maxey said to the former MVP being revealed later.
Things did not improve for the 76ers after the meeting, as they continued their losing ways last night against the Memphis Grizzlies. Playing in what could have been a much-needed winning game, the 76ers collapsed, losing 117-111 to a Grizzlies side that didn’t even have Ja Morant.
Embiid did have a good game, dropping 35 points (10-21 FG), 11 rebounds, along with two assists, one steal, and one block. But with Paul George reinjuring his left knee, the 76ers weren’t able to pull things together. This was the first official game that the 76ers had their big three of Embiid, George, and Maxey available to play.
George has suffered a hyperextended knee, the same injury that kept him out of the 76ers’ first few games this season. This means fans will have to wait longer to see the All-Star trio play together regularly. In his absence, Embiid and Maxey must carry the load and turn things around for the team.
Frustration Setting In For Embiid
There is no doubt that Joel Embiid is frustrated. His comments to the reporter about the team meeting leak clearly show a player who is annoyed about the state of affairs with his team and wants things to change. But could there be more to the frustration than just the 76ers’ losing start?
Well, one NBA insider believes it is because of the roster construction, as Joel Embiid reportedly wanted the 76ers to go for former teammate Jimmy Butler rather than Paul George. And with Butler not coming back, Embiid is possibly annoyed about the franchise not meeting his demands.
Right now, Embiid must set his frustration aside. As one of the best players in the NBA, Embiid must lead the team with good performances. So far, he hasn’t done that, averaging just 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in his first four games.
Compare this to last season, and you will see just how Embiid has regressed. Last season, Embiid was incredible, averaging 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game.
While one can be sympathetic to Embiid, as he is coming off injury concerns, he must perform better. There is some concern that Embiid’s injury concerns are more serious than once expected, and he could be dealing with chronic knee issues. This could put Embiid at risk of missing more games this season.
For now, Embiid is healthy, and the 76ers must capitalize on this by winning some games. They are currently the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference and have to improve if they want any chance of making the playoffs with a high seed.
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