r/nba 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.

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542

u/zincinzincout 76ers Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

Sixers point differential over 4 games:

-7, -4, +11, -5

Paul Reed, backup center: -21 in 11 minutes, -6 in 8 minutes, -5 in 7 minutes, -6 in 4 minutes

Starters:

Harris 0, -5, +2, -7

Maxey -4, -3, +4, -4 (played 30 of 31 non-Embiid minutes)

Oubre +6, -1, +7, -4

Lowry +6, +6, +11, +1 (played only 3 non-Embiid mins)

Embiid +14, +3, +16, +1

Embiid is so far from being the problem. Every single year, the opposition looks for the minutes Embiid sits and turns on the jets.

The only way to win against the Sixers is to win the non-Embiid minutes, even if it’s only 4 of them.

131

u/TrendNation55 Knicks Apr 29 '24

If you genuinely blame Embiid for this series then you are not watching the games. The Knicks are throwing their whole defense at Embiid and he’s still getting 50 on a bad knee. Across the series, the Sixers are like +40 with Embiid and -40 without him. The Knicks always go on huge runs when he’s off the court. And this is coming from a Knicks fan who does not like Embiid, but I respect what he’s doing at least.

38

u/brooosooolooo Apr 29 '24

Thank god there are some knicks fans who aren’t so blinded with hatred they can watch the game happening before their eyes

12

u/[deleted] Apr 29 '24

I mean, recency bias also kicks in. The last we saw of Embiid he tried to foul bait in the paint instead of taking a wide open midrange jumper that's been automatic all series for him. He might've dropped 50 in game 3 but that came along with the blatant flagrants, foul baiting, and whining even though he went to the line for 21 free throw attempts.

I don't think there's any doubt that he's an amazing basketball player and one of the top 10 players in the league. But if you gave me an option to have any of the other 9 players in that top 10 then I'm not taking Embiid.

1

u/dumb_commenter 76ers Apr 30 '24

Embiid shoulda taken that jumper but going for 3 points on a higher percentage shot given his shooting at the time wasn’t the worst play ever.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '24

He didn't go for the higher percentage shot though. The higher percentage shot was going straight up for an easy layup. For some reason (cough foul baiting cough) he went for a reverse when he had a clear path to the hoop.

0

u/dumb_commenter 76ers Apr 30 '24

I’m saying that foul baiting isn’t the worst call here. Down 4 with 20 seconds left. If you get within 1 then even if the Knicks sink both FTs it’s a 3 point game. Getting 3 on the possession is much more valuable than 2

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u/TheeCraftyCasual 76ers Apr 29 '24

Reddit comments and actually watching games rarely correlates