Joel Embiid Named Eastern Conference Player of The Week
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 06: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at the Wells Fargo Center on November 06, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Joel Embiid continues to rack up the personal awards. After a great week where the Sixers went unbeaten, again, and Embiid scored 36.3 points per game, he has been named the Eastern Conference Player of The Week.
Even without James Harden, Embiid and Maxey have the Sixers off to a very fast start with new head coach Nick Nurse. They are 8-1, with their only loss coming in the first game of the season to the Bucks. Since then all they have done is win. And that continued into this past week. They went 4-0, with wins over the Wizards, Celtics, Pistons, and Pacers.
Embiid’s week opened up with a bang in a 48-point game against the Wizards where he only played 3 quarters. He scored 29 in the 3rd quarter alone along with 11 rebounds and 6 assists. The next game he put up 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a key win over the Boston Celtics, before wrapping up the weekend with 33 points against the Pistons, and 37 against the Pacers. Between the 4 games, he averaged 36.3 pts, 12.5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, in just 34 minutes per game. He shot 51% from the field and led all players in scoring during the week.
This is Embiid’s 12th time winning the award, and the first time this season. Tyrese Maxey had already won the award in the first week of the season, meaning the Sixers have now won 2 of 3 awards this season, with Jayson Tatum winning it between Maxey and Embiid.
Next up for the Sixers is an In-Season Tournament Game vs the Pacers on Tuesday Night. The next night they have a rematch with the Celtics. On Friday there is another In-Season Game vs the Hakws in Atlanta, before closing out the week in Brooklyn vs the Nets on Sunday. The Sixers have won 66% of these awards so far, so let’s see if either Maxey, Embiid, or even Harris can keep that trend going.
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8 Things Daryl Morey Had To Say When He Joined Andrew Salciunas
No one really had much expectations for the Sixers coming into this season. Between the James Harden drama, and yet another 2nd round exit, the Sixers’ mood around Philadelphia was the lowest it has been since the start of the Process. But then the season started, and things actually looked good. New Head Coach Nick Nurse has the Sixers running like a well-oiled machine. And after a few games, Daryl Morey finally traded away James Harden, getting back some role players, and more importantly, 2 first-round picks they can eventually use to acquire another star.
Suddenly, large parts of the fan base are back on board. It’s early, but the good play and the fun new look has people enjoying the Sixers again. They are 4-1, with most recently a win over the Suns. 4 guys are averaging at least 20 points. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and offseason addition Kelly Oubre Jr. The ball is moving more than it ever did under previous regimes. Nurse has them playing tough defense, and they are just a fun team to watch right now.
Are they good enough to compete for a Ring? It is too soon to tell. If Maxey continues his rise to Super Stardom maybe so. But most still believe they are missing another piece. A move that would probably have to wait a couple of months until they are able to trade some of the players they just acquired.
So to get the scoop on the Harden trade, Nick Nurse, and the Sixers’ hot start, Andrew Salciunas talked to Sixers President Daryl Morey. What moves are still to come? Why have the Sixers looked so good out of the gate? How did the Harden trade come to be? Morey talked about all of that and more.
Here is some of what Daryl Morey had to say:
Andrew Salciunas, “The Choonis,” has done it all at the station - screening calls, working events as a member of the street team, producing 7 days a week, doing updates, and now hosting his own show. Now with a wife and kid, his life experiences are far different than when he first started, but this “regular guy” knows how to relate to anyone. He writes about the Flyers, Phillies, Sixers, and Eagles.
