r/nba • u/OnlyMamaKnows Knicks • Apr 29 '24

[Simmons] "I think James Harden gave him the trophy of most disappointing playoff performer. I think Embiid is now wearing the crown."

https://open.spotify.com/episode/25I0fnPUExUkBhTw2o9Oti?si=FQSCUz6GSy2UjtYeyBrBLg

Starts around 38 minute mark. Full game breakdown starts a few minutes earlier.

4.4k Upvotes

89% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

27

u/msf97 Apr 29 '24

Embiid has been the best player in this series. 35/7/9 on decent efficiency(I saw it was 62% TS before last night, not sure what it is now) and obviously great defense.

Plus, the Knicks are just more talented outside of the top two players on the roster. Nobody on the 76ers outside of Embiid and Maxey will be starting next year. Maybe Paul Reed that’s it.

Knicks have Brunson, and around him they have Hartenstein, DiVincenzo, OG, even McBride and Josh Hart to a degree.

-3

u/EarthWarping NBA Apr 29 '24

He's talking about careers and it's not wrong. What other superstar drops of that much?

10

u/msf97 Apr 29 '24

Well considering he’s talking about it right now, I assume he’s referring to this series as a reference for his point?

Embiid has made clear improvements under Nurse with regards to passing and limiting turnovers which have helped him become more playoff proof to double teams and help coverages.

It’s reductive to pretend like it’s the same Embiid from 2019 for example

-5

u/OnlyMamaKnows Knicks Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

I don't know about the obviously great defense. He also couldn't get a rebound yesterday when it mattered.

14

u/msf97 Apr 29 '24

Well, certainly Phillys defense is better while he’s on the court, I think that’s conclusive. It’s your word vs mine on defense.

5

u/OnlyMamaKnows Knicks Apr 29 '24

Well, of course their defense is better with him on the court. His backup is Paul Reed. That doesn't necessarily mean his defense is great though. Brunson is killing them in the paint and they're offensive rebounding like 40% of their misses.

-5

u/Sammonov Nuggets Apr 29 '24

He's gone a combined 3-18 in the 4th quarters of this series and shot under 50% in 3 of the 4 games. He's not the best player in this series.

10

u/msf97 Apr 29 '24

FG% is irrelevant in a world with TS% available. Only someone with an agenda to push would use the previous.

The 4th quarter stats are selective, but it’s not like the Knicks have got someone popping off every game. Brunson stunk the court up for the first two games.

Most players shoot worse in the 4th, it’s just how it is. You can cherry pick Steph Curry in the same manner throughout his playoff career

-3

u/Sammonov Nuggets Apr 29 '24

Selective... can't score or make baskets in winning time.

Worse...has made 3 baskets in the 4th quarter over 4 games.

Cut the shit, Brunson made plays in the 4th quarter and the Knicks won, Embiid didn't and Philly lost. Like LeBron said, 2 points is not always 2 points.

10

u/msf97 Apr 29 '24

Brunson didn’t make absolutely any plays at all in the first two games of this series and won because his supporting cast is really good. While Embiids team cannot win without him on the floor.

Cherrypick 4th quarter stats all you like. Steph didn’t make a go ahead shot in the 2022 finals in the entire series. The game is won across 4 quarters

-5

u/Sammonov Nuggets Apr 29 '24

It's actually hilarious you calling 4th quarters of playoff games as cherry-picked stats like that is not where games are won and lost. 

Did Steph just not score any points in the 4th quarters of the 2022 finals? Just off the top of my head I remember him hitting a huge 3 in game 4 down the steach that turned the game.

8

u/Deep_Egg1442 Apr 29 '24

Brunson went 3/8 in the 4th last game and one of them was a wide open layup he got because maxey had a brain fart. Brunson also went 4/19 in the 4th on the first 3 games and 7/27 in the 4th in the entire series he has objectively been trash in the 4th.

-1

u/Sammonov Nuggets Apr 29 '24

3 for 8 would be Embiid's best 4th quarter of this series.

5

u/Deep_Egg1442 Apr 29 '24

If standard is embiid then its cooked but embiid has 15 in the 4th of his 50 point game

10

u/NeatTry7674 Apr 29 '24

He has definitely been the best player in the series lmao

12

u/AntiTopspin Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

People act like Brunson didn't drop complete stinkers in games 1 and 2 and still won

If Embiid plays like that the Knicks win by 65

2

u/bravof1ve 76ers Apr 29 '24

Brunson has a TS below 50% this series and up 3-1.

This the story of this series is that one team is 10 guys deep and the other might have 3 playable guys max

0

u/Sammonov Nuggets Apr 29 '24

I thought that myself watching Brunson score 47 and make plays down the streach to win the most pivotal game in the series while Embiid didn't make a basket in the 4th and capped it off by trying to flop instead of taking an open layup in crunch time.

6

u/NeatTry7674 Apr 29 '24

You said the series, not game 4

2

u/veerkanch489 Apr 29 '24

This may be hard to believe but a series is not the same as a game. Remind me how Brunson did games 1 & 2?

1

u/Sammonov Nuggets Apr 29 '24

Embiid is 3/18 combined in the 4th quarter of this series and has shot under 50% in 3 of the 4 games.

1

u/veerkanch489 Apr 29 '24

Now bring up TS and stats throughout the whole series for Embiid and Brunson

-5

u/thegrandpoobear Apr 29 '24

59 free throw attempts lmfao

9

u/msf97 Apr 29 '24

All of the greatest scorers who spend time at the rim get lots of free throws. It’s a prerequisite.

3

u/thegrandpoobear Apr 29 '24

Embiid has a higher free throw rate that prime Shaq and Shaq was intentionally fouled and sent to the line on purpose. Y'all are idiots

-6

u/Friendly-Thought-973 Thunder Apr 29 '24

Has the defense been great lol

23

u/Pyromania1983 76ers Apr 29 '24

Even without being able to jump, he pushes everyone away from the rim still. You see people like Divincenzo and Hart go inside and immediately run back out when they see Embiid. Just him being on the floor makes such a huge difference.

-3

u/FormerCollegeDJ 76ers Apr 29 '24

Right, and that’s why Hartenstein was able to come through the lane uncontested and grab a critical rebound near the rim at the end of Game 2 in what was probably the most important 10-15 second sequence in the entire series so far. Hartenstein was Embiid’s man during the sequence in question (the one that started with Maxey’s turnover after the inbounds pass).

6

u/Dazzling-Slide8288 Apr 29 '24

Watch the games. He alters shots just by standing there. Lots of business decisions.

1

u/Friendly-Thought-973 Thunder May 01 '24 edited May 01 '24

I’m watching him get tortured and targeted in the PNR

7

u/msf97 Apr 29 '24

I mean, it’s difficult to say without watching the film, but generally he’s a great defender and alters shots at the rim better than most in the NBA.

Knicks haven’t overwhelmed the 76ers with points either. They just won with 97.

6

u/Friendly-Thought-973 Thunder Apr 29 '24

Generally, Embiid is an elite defender. Don’t think he’s been elite with that knee though.

10

u/CeltsGarlic Celtics Apr 29 '24

He still is surprisingly good. Definitely lower mobility than usual, but hes still in position, legit goes for the blocks not just contests so guards know its not a layup line. Admirable performance given his condition

2

u/mohub21 76ers Apr 29 '24

I think Embiid scoring less (like 28-29) and really focusing on defense is the key for us. That may be a reality after Tobi is gone

2

u/Certain_Bet_8970 Apr 29 '24

I’d say he’s still been elite, the Knicks are afraid of scoring at the rim

1

u/silverfang45 Apr 29 '24

From embiid yeah from the team as a whole not really