PHILADELPHIA - Joel Embiid, the 76ers, barely have a leg to stand upon. Embiid can't jump. He is unable to jump.
Embiid works every day.
Now, the Sixers are the top-seeded.
Embiid is still playing with the cartilage that has been torn in his right knee. It's admirable, maybe -- but the Sixers are seeing diminishing returns. The Sixers' big man is feeling the pain as they return home Wednesday to face Game 5 against Atlanta Hawks. Joel embiid injury and Ben Simmons’ failures in Game 4 were key to the Sixers’ collapse down the stretch. The Hawks pulled away with the win and tied the series 2-2.
The Western Conference semifinals, between the Utah Jazz (and Los Angeles Clippers) are underway. The Clippers take the momentum and the Jazz are back in Salt Lake City, with Donovan Mitchell as their young star. Los Angeles beat Utah in Game 3 and 4 in California.
Mitchell might be able to take a day off from work, which could make him more valuable than Embiid.
The 76ers leader was in the locker area in the second quarter Monday. He was 0-for-12 from behind the basket in the half-final. Embiid was trailing 101 to 100 by the 76ers and missed an easy shot on a layup he would normally have hit home for the go-ahead basket.
He ended the game with 17 points and 21 rebounds.
Embiid declared after the match, "I'm just doing my best,"
Atlanta was not the only team that lost against Atlanta. They had a 13-point lead at halftime and only made four baskets. -- in the fourth period, and scored 38 points in the half.
It is not a resume worthy enough to be the East's top-ranked seed.
The Sixers took Tuesday off of practice and made it a Game 4 film screening. It was a poor review. Coach Doc Rivers stated that the review was ugly. Rivers described a "hero ball" situation where players attempted to win the game rather than passing it to open players. Rivers claimed that nearly every possession on the stretch featured a Sixer who was standing wide open, calling for the ball, and it ended up somewhere else.
Rivers indicated that Embiid would be available for Game 5.
Rivers stated Tuesday, "We wouldn’t put Joel out there for him if he couldn’t play." Rivers stated Tuesday, "I'll take whatever we have." I don't have any concerns."