Missing 10 games didn’t change Joel Embiid’s mission to win it all, including NBA MVP
Embiid #Embiid
DALLAS — Nothing’s changed.
That’s basically what Joel Embiid will tell you in regards to his goal. Before suffering a left knee bone bruise, the 76ers centered was focused on three things: Finishing first in the Eastern Conference, winning and NBA title, and winning league MVP.
But Embiid knows he won’t win the MVP award unless the Sixers win. They are tied for first place with the Brooklyn Nets in the conference with 36-17 records heading into Monday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
“So that’s always my main focus, just to go out there and win every single game,” he said. “Obviously, our goal is to finish first.
“But when it comes to the MVP stuff, I feel like I’m still right there. When I’m on the floor, I feel like I played the best all season. You know, just doing my thing, just dominating with the help of my teammates and coaches putting me in the right position to succeed.”
Are the Sixers legitimate NBA championship contenders? We may finally find out this week.Embiid was the leading MVP candidate before suffering a left-knee bone bruise against the Washington Wizards on March 12. The injury sidelined him 10 games.
Before then, Embiid was second in the league in scoring at 30.2 points per game and seventh in rebounding at 11.6.
Monday’s contest marks his fifth game back since the injury. He averaged 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in his first four games back.
His highlight was scoring 35 points in 32 minutes, 48 seconds in a 106-96 road victory over the Boston Celtics on April 6. Then on Saturday, Embiid had 27 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in 27:14 during a 117-93 road win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Sixers have struggled on the road vs. winning teams, but the numbers alone don’t tell the story 5/8 Off the DribbleIncluding those four games, Embiid takes season averages of 29.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 blocks into the Mavs contest.
“I still think I’m right there,” he said. “I still think I’m the MVP. You know, I’ve been dominant all season, and I’m not going to stop.
“But the bigger goal, obviously, is just to get to the playoffs healthy to be able to compete for the whole thing.”
He’s right.
The Sixers’ ultimate success depends on Embiid’s health no matter how clutch Tobias Harris is or how man jumpers Ben Simmons takes or how George Hill meshes with new teammates.
Embiid is adjusting to playing with a brace on his left knee since the injury. With limited mobility, he was shooting 20-for-49 (40.8%) in the first three games since his return.
Following Friday’s 5-for-16 effort against the Pelicans, Embiid, while still dressed in his uniform, went back on the court to shoot for 30 minutes.
Joel Embiid gets up shots after shooting 5-16 from the field in a loss to the Pelicans. pic.twitter.com/ysCEwf0MBB
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) April 10, 2021
The next night against the Thunder, he made 10 of 17 shots and scored 27 points.
“You know the brace bothers him,” Doc Rivers said. “There’s no doubt about that. He going to have to wear that a couple of more weeks. Hopefully less, but he’s getting through it, and he’s doing the best he can.”
Sixers Joel Embiid on Ben Simmons: ‘I want him to be aggressive every single game.’Embiid said the brace is cutting off some of the normal blood flow and circulation in his leg.
“So my leg gets tired fast,” he said. “So it’s an adjustment. It’s better [in regards] to protecting me. So I just got to keep [wearing] it.”
Embiid’s goals haven’t changed regardless of what’s limiting him.
He stills wants to help the Sixers finish first in the conference, win an NBA title and be the league’s MVP.
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