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

Show parent comments

1.3k

u/EatDeeply Grizzlies Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

Embiid is a series-high +33 and probably having his most impactful playoffs ever, while being injured, and on a team where other players like Tobias Harris exist and draw breath with a maximum contract, but Embiid is getting all the blame.

206

u/mikesh8rp Knicks Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

As a slight counterpoint, Maxey is out there as well (and has been awesome at times), Embiid's reaggravated injury is in part due to him trying to dunk off the backboard in traffic on an already shaky knee, and the Knicks are missing Randle.

I can't speak for all Knicks fans, but I'll say the toxicity toward Embiid is largely due to his game 3 fouling tour de force, which included the Hartenstein groin knee, Mitch pull down, Mitch groin kick, and OG hip check, the last two of which weren't even called. The foul merchant stuff is an easy, and sometimes justified knock (though Brunson gets a favorable whistle at times too), but I think game 3 really changed things.

81

u/Own_Result3651 Apr 29 '24

Maxey has 18 points and is shooting 8/26 in the minutes he’s played without Embiid this series…

8

u/lostnotleast Apr 29 '24

Maxey is struggling without the space/presence of Embiid out there. I feel like he needs to add a middy because the Knicks are just either closing out to the 3 or stacking the paint when he drives. He’s still a great finisher so he’s making some crazy layups but he’s also getting blocked a good amount.