Sixers vs. Nets: Joel Embiid’s Game 2 features enjoyable passing, valuable defense, a bit of mischief
It was yet another one of those nights that Joel Embiid did a little bit of everything.
A lot of everything, really.
His statistics from the Sixers Round 1, Game 2 victory Monday over the Nets suggest as much 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting, 19 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks although Embiid thought that final number should have looked a bit better after an exceptional defensive outing.
Only three blocks? I probably need the Memphis scorekeeper, he said, referencing a strange conspiracy theory about Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. receiving an edge at home. What was it, Denver? Memphis? I thought I had more. But thats the level (of defense) that Ive got to get to. Im going to do it every game.
As for Cameron Johnsons highlight slam over him in the second quarter, Embiid deadpanned, I dont remember getting dunked on.
Unlike in his press conference after the Sixers Game 1 win, Embiid did not have the (delightful) distraction of his Prepare for cuteness overload 🤣🥺 pic.twitter.com/HGzIPLBdtJ Better look at the sweatshirt. pic.twitter.com/Kgu3oCbuqC
Following Game 1, Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn told reporters, Hopefully, theyll be calling a travel and three seconds on the big fella next game.
Embiid found that remark similar to how the opposing coach criticized the officiating during the Sixers first-round series last year vs. the Raptors.
I saw after the game last time, they kind of took the Joel Embiid says he told Nick Nurse “respectfully” to “stop bitching about calls.”
Embiid says he feels all fouls he got were legitimate and “there probably should’ve been more, honestly.”
I think we didnt play our best basketball, but what happened in the second half is we just figured out what worked and we just kept doing it over and over and over. They stuck to their game plan, they didnt make any adjustments, and we just figured it out and kept playing together.
The Sixers led the NBA in free throw rate this regular season for a third straight year, per Cleaning the Glass.
Through two games against Brooklyn, theyve attempted 32 total free throws. Embiid has taken 19. James Harden, who struggled Monday in an eight-point performance, has attempted zero foul shots in the series.
He was aggressive and its kind of crazy that hes not getting any free throws, Embiid said of Harden. I think hes been getting fouled a lot. And I dont think hes been to the free throw line at all during these two games, which is kind of insane to think about. So hopefully, they change that.
While none of Embiids seven assists were to Harden, he set up four of the Sixers 11 three-pointers. On an off shooting night for the team (11 for 35 from long range), Sixers head coach Doc Rivers and Tyrese Maxey praised Embiids continued trust in his teammates.
Appropriately, Embiid was perhaps most illuminating on that subject after the Sixers tight Feb. 11 win in Brooklyn. He joked about his teammates missed jumpers, noted you cant win 1-on-5, and shared his belief that hitting the open man would pay off at some point.
I think I used to get frustrated a lot. I can shoot over double teams and I can make some of those shots, but Ive come to find out that you cant win alone, Embiid said that night. You need to trust your teammates and even when theyre missing, you need to keep making the right plays, make the right passes. Thats how you play basketball. Youre not going to win by being selfish, taking all the shots and shooting over double teams and triple teams.
On Monday, Embiid truly saw occasional triple teams.
The Sixers came back in the third quarter by rediscovering what worked in Game 1. They gave Embiid the ball in the middle of the floor, let the Nets send hard help defense, and profited from his ability to find open shooters.
Statistically, the 22-year-old Maxey has been one of the leagues best shooters. After making 43.4 percent of his threes during the regular season on significantly increased volume (from 4.2 to 6.6 attempts per 36 minutes), hes at 9 for 18 in the series.
Maxey’s last triple in a 33-point Game 2 was an exceedingly comfortable corner jumper. Jalen McDaniels got the ball to Embiid at the left elbow extended and made a good gut cut. With Spencer Dinwiddie having to worry about McDaniels dive to the rim and Seth Curry doubling, Embiid fired a pass to Maxey.
A lot of people think I just love scoring the basketball, Embid said. I dont think its true. I enjoy winning and doing whatever it takes to win. Some nights I might shoot a lot and score a lot. Some nights Im going to get double teamed and have to make the passes. But I believe in playing the right way, which is getting your teammates involved against double, triple teams, making sure everybody touches the ball.
Thats what I believe in. Its fun playing that way; everybodys happy. Doesnt matter if I have four points. As long as we score and guys are doing their jobs and making shots, that makes me happy.
