Sixers Win, But Joel Embiid’s Play Leads To Even More Buts

No one finds fault in a win more than me. It's not that I don't enjoy wins, but I look at it as the never-ending pursuit of perfection. I know I'll never find it. But I will keep looking because that is the aspect of sports that keeps me entertained. 

So let me say, I find it terrific that the Sixers are up 3-0 against the Brooklyn Nets in this first-round series. I audibly laugh at the fact that if they win on Saturday, the Sixers will have at least a week off from playoff basketball to get ready for a round two series that will almost certainly be against the hated Boston Celtics. I am excited to see that Tyrese Maxey appears to be turning into a reliable star that will thrill fans for years to come here in Philadelphia. The different styles of defense that coach Doc Rivers is throwing against the Nets every night interests me to no end, as it is something that we hadn't seen during the regular season. 

And yet there is, should we call it concern? Frustration? Madness? I honestly am not sure how to approach this subject. Joel Embiid is the head of the aforementioned titles, as he was baited into tussles, nearly ejected in the first two minutes of the game, and laid on the floor too many times to count. He limped because of a knee problem. Held his back after getting shoved from behind a few times. Labored up and down the floor in slow-motion fashion. He allowed himself to be stopped by players 50, 60, 70 pounds lighter than him. Quite simply, he was not Joel Embiid. 

And yet his team won, 102-97, to put them just one more victory away from advancing to the next round. That is, and always should be the ultimate goal. Whether Embiid scores 35 or the quiet 14 he collected on Thursday. 

And here comes the but. The Sixers won, but Embiid was a shadow of the MVP player he's been all season. He had a huge defensive play late in the game - a tremendous blocked shot on Spencer Dinwiddie late in the game with the Sixers clinging to a two-point lead, but it may have been the only big play that he made. 

There is a lot of nit-picking we can do about Joel Embiid's play and attitude in last night's game. But, and this is the biggest one, but they won the game and in the end, that's all that matters. At least, maybe like you, I'm trying to convince myself of that

The Philadelphia 76ers are BACK in the playoffs and have locked up the 3 seed. The team will take on the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Nets will be without Ben Simmons who doesnt want to play basketball is dealing with another injury. The rest of the makeshift roster is led by former Villanova standout, and Sixers draft pick Mikal Bridges. Even with Bridges elevating his play since coming over in the Kevin Durant deal, the team didnt see a ton of wins in the column.

Hopefully the Sixers can wrap this up in 4 games, but just in case, here is the schedule for the first round series!

Game 1 starts this SATURDAY for some day basketball!It will be broadcasted live on ESPN

After the Sixers take a 1 game lead (I hope) theyll have one day off before game 2 tips off at 7:30 on TNT.

The Sixers will then head up to Brooklyn for game 3, and get 2 days off in between games. The game will be on TNT

Could the Sixers close it out in game 4? We hope. Just like games 2 and 3 it will be on TNT

Well if they need a game 5 it will be Monday. While we dont know the official tip off time we can say with GREAT confidence that it wont be 1pm. Likely a 7 or 7:30 tip off. No word on who will broadcast this game on TV but the Fanatic has you covered ALWAYS

The Sixers once again have a lot of time in between games as they prepare to head to Brooklyn. But they wont need it. Were just talking hypotheticals here. And hypothetically speaking, if they need this one it will be Thursday in Brooklyn. No word on start time or TV broadcast.

If we need this game lord help us all. But if the series goes 7 it will be broadcast on TNT. No word on start time.