Joel Embiid ought to be far previous the purpose of feeling like he has something to show through the common season. Embiid is without doubt one of the easiest gamers in NBA, a title he’s earned by ending top-two in MVP voting every of the final three seasons. Embiid lastly gained MVP final yr, however the award didn’t carry him the validation he desired: his major peer, Nikola Jokic, gained his first championship, whereas Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers have been once more eradicated within the second spherical of the playoffs.
There was a simple lesson to be taught from Jokic’s title run: he primarily bowed out of the MVP race final season by taking it simple within the second half of the yr to verify he was contemporary for the playoffs. The Sixers may have tried to comply with the identical path this yr with Embiid, but the chase for an additional MVP award feels prefer it performed a distinguished function within the famous person huge man taking place with a scary harm on Tuesday evening.
There’s one notable distinction within the NBA MVP race this season: the league’s new Collective Bargaining Settlement put in a 65-game minimal for all end-of-season awards. Coming into Tuesday evening’s recreation towards the Golden State Warriors, Embiid may solely miss 5 extra video games all season and nonetheless win the award. Embiid was thought of a large front-runner to win his second MVP this season so long as he performed sufficient video games.
Embiid was listed as questionable going into the Warriors recreation with knee soreness. He had initially tweaked his knee on Jan. 25 towards the Pacers, but stayed within the recreation. Embiid then missed his nationally televised matchup with Jokic in Denver — the place Embiid hasn’t performed since 2019 — because the nationwide media moaned concerning the Philly star “ducking” the matchup. The Sixers misplaced to the Nuggets, then misplaced once more to the lowly Portland Path Blazers two nights later as Embiid sat out once more.
The Sixers already knew they have been going to be with out Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton, Nicolas Batum, and Robert Covington towards the Warriors. With the New York Knicks on their heels for the No. 3 seed within the East, Embiid gave it a go after warming up towards Golden State. It was clear from the beginning that he was enjoying harm.
The Warriors beat the Sixers, 119-107, for Philly’s fourth straight loss. The larger information is that Embiid went down with a knee harm within the fourth quarter. All of Philadelphia is anxiously ready on the following replace about his well being.
Late within the fourth quarter, Warriors ahead Jonathan Kuminga fell on Embiid’s leg. The famous person huge man wouldn’t return. Watch the play right here:
Embiid was clearly hobbled properly earlier than he was knocked out of the sport. He wasn’t capable of generate any elevate off the ball, settling for mid-range jumpers many of the evening on one in all his least environment friendly scoring performances of the yr. At one level, Embiid fell to the bottom simply attempting to contest a shot.
Because the Warriors held a double-digit lead for many of the second half, it could have been simple to relaxation Embiid and waive the white flag. As a substitute, head coach Nick Nurse saved Embiid within the recreation, and the harm ultimately occurred.
All of this was completely pointless: it ought to have been apparent Embiid wanted to relaxation after going by way of warmups. As a substitute, the will to play sufficient video games to fulfill the standards for MVP, in addition to media stress utilized within the wake of his resolution to sit down out towards Denver, led to Embiid enjoying harm in a largely meaningless common season recreation. Now, the Sixers don’t have anything to do however hold on the MRI.
Nick Nurse says that the harm that compelled Embiid to depart the sport within the fourth quarter was unrelated to the harm that has held him out lately. Embiid will get an MRI.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) January 31, 2024
Embiid probably pushed to play vs. the Warriors. It’s the 76ers’ job to inform him no. By failing to take the long-view, Embiid might have completely ended his MVP probabilities this yr, and extra importantly, made it harder for him to actually be wholesome for the playoffs.
Embiid ought to have taken extra precaution himself, too. Embiid had a streak of 30-point, 10-rebound performances that hit 22 video games through the loss to Indiana. Some consider Embiid re-entered that recreation to maintain the streak alive when was clearly harm early within the evening.
The NBA ought to really feel some warmth, too. The league put within the 65-game minimal for MVP as a result of it desires its stars enjoying to offered out crowds each evening, particularly when these video games are on nationwide TV. The draw back of pushing onerous within the common season comes with risking the flexibility to be contemporary for the playoffs. Would Embiid have performed vs. the Warriors with out the 65-game MVP minimal this yr? We’ll by no means know, but it surely does really feel prefer it performed a job in his resolution to provide it a go particularly after the discourse popping out of the Denver recreation.
All of that is extremely silly. Embiid is without doubt one of the finest gamers of his era — proper up there with Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Jokic and Giannis every have an NBA championship to their identify. Embiid doesn’t. That ought to be the precedence above the rest.
After the loss to Golden State, the Sixers at the moment are instantly the No. 5 seed within the East if the season ended at present. That makes their path to a championship a lot harder, as a result of it means a possible second spherical assembly with the Boston Celtics. Who is aware of how far Philly will drop if Embiid misses a giant stretch of video games due to this harm.
The Sixers ought to have discovered that one other MVP gained’t carry Embiid peace — solely a hoop will. This was dealt with poorly from each attainable facet.