Joel Embiid did not join the Sixers for their latest trip due to the pain in his right knee. However, he was back for the clash Wednesday against the Celtics at Wells Fargo Center, and the Sixers are definitely excited that he was available.
Embiid led the Sixers to a 117-109 victory, scoring 42 points on 19 field goal attempts, grabbing 10 rebounds and helping the team improve to 10-5 with another MVP- shallow.
Seth Curry approved the NBA’s health and safety protocols, but did not play Wednesday as he regained his condition after testing positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 7. All players who test positive for COVID-19 may not practice for at least ten. days according to the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Celtics star Jayson Tatum may return on Friday for the finals of this mini-series as he makes progress after apparently testing positive for COVID-19.
Here are observations on winning Sixers Wednesday:
Embiid too much to handle
Embiid looked sharp and impossible to defend effectively.
The Sixers had him successful early in the left-elbow region and in the pick-and-buttons at the top of the key, harder places for the Celtics to double him than on the low block.
Boston, of course, still hadn’t thought about teaming up with Embiid, and the Sixers were also very happy to place him. There was a good series for the Sixers in the second quarter when Embiid earned a position near the left block, assisted and passed the simple pass and finally watched Shake Milton sink a try on the other side of the floor. In the third quarter, Danny Green was a crossover assistant, which was another highlight of Embiid who proved his skill this season in performing basic and sophisticated reading from the post.
Embiid is a proponent of free kicks and points it out at another opponent who is not equipped to stop him. It was 17 of 21. The skill was especially important when the Sixers had a long drought in the second quarter with no field goal. Embiid’s health is extremely important to the Sixers, and the team’s 0-3 record without him this season is not necessary to illustrate the obvious fact. That said, give Dwight Howard credit for being a nuisance to the Celtics and scoring six offensive rebounds.
Unlike Embiid, Ben Simmons’ score can again be described as modest. The 24-year-old did not reach a field goal until Jeff Teague was stolen and struck the ensuing transitional trigger early in the third period. He got his fifth offense late in the third quarter and finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
While Simmons attacked the skin several times well when he observed an opening and shot 7 for 10 from the foul line, a 17-point result on Jan. 6 against the Wizards is still the highest point for the season. Simmons obviously contributes consistently in many ways, in addition to scoring, and should benefit if Curry does return.
Tobias Harris (22 points on 9-for-17 shooting) provided the necessary offensive drive at key moments, and he scored seven straight points as the Sixers trailed 12-4 and helped the team get in early. the fourth quarter to gain the lead four bench players.
Korkmaz’s return and impact on Sixers’ bench
Furkan Korkmaz returned on Wednesday after missing more than three weeks due to a left-wing adductor team, posting seven points in 19 minutes, including a stylish reverse dunk. Isaiah Joe was the strange man because Milton, Howard, Matisse Thybulle and Korkmaz were the only Sixers from the second unit.
Asked about Joe before the game, head coach Doc Rivers remarked that he is not the only shooter on the Sixers.
“He’s a guy who can shoot, but also Shake, also Furkan, Danny Green too, Seth Curry too,” Rivers said. ‘He’s just in a row of guys we have. It’s a wonderful luxury. It’s a wonderful luxury to have a man who can get off the couch and make shots. Do you know what else? I thought he also shows him as a solid defender, which will help him move forward. ‘
Since playing 45 minutes for the Sevens Sixers on Jan. 9, Joe has shot 17 of 39 (43.6 percent) from three points. We assume he will soon get another chance, either the injury to another player or Rivers’ decision to split his minutes with Korkmaz or Thybulle at some point. As Rivers mentioned, the rookie wing has seen defensively and proudly, qualities that will have to strengthen his case, even if he does not fall.
A defensive question
Tyrese Maxey pulled the first assignment on Kemba Walker. The rookie did not have a favorable start as Walker returned in his second game after missing an early knee injury earlier this season, threatening two early pullers. Matisse Thybulle slightly bothered Walker in the second quarter with his length, constant activity and disruptive backwards competitions, but Walker managed to make two more long-distance jumpers. The Sixers were happy that Walker (19 points) played only 22 minutes and did not stay so hot after halftime as Boston focused on relieving him to action again.
Although the Sixers did not drop their big men far behind Walker, they were also unwilling to flash him regularly or otherwise force the ball out of the four-time All-Star’s hands. Will they play and defend more aggressively against him in a future playoff series? We will not get an answer to that question any time soon, but we will look at adjustments in the finals of this mini-series.