The Philadelphia 76ers are simply dominating the comparatively weaker Eastern Conference but had it not been for their talisman, Joel Embiid, Doc Rivers and his men would not be at the top of the conference. The Cameroonian has been in splendid form this season and his statistics prove that he can very well clinch the MVP, especially the way he has carried the 76ers on his back.
If he lands the MVP title this season then he will be the first center to get the accolade since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000. While Embiid is enjoying a trailblazing season in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers came up with a shocking 112-109 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. It is indeed a shocking result as the Cavaliers have once again struggled to get going through the season and can be considered as one of the bottom-placed teams in the Eastern Conference. J B Bickerstaff’s men are currently in the 14th position only ahead of the Detroit Pistons. Therefore the loss came as a shock for the 76ers and also for Embiid.
But despite the loss, the Cameroonian was on song as he scored 42 points and registered 13 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks. Embiid was not happy with the performance of the team overall and felt that the players have to create more for each other.
“We gotta create for each other. I think we still don’t shoot enough 3s. I think we just gotta create for each other and you’re wide open, just let it fly. If you miss it, we got a couple of good offensive rebounders, and if you make it, good.
“Offensively, it also gets better when you get stops,” Embiid added. “It always starts on defence. If you get stops, we have one of the fastest players in the league in Ben and we can push it in transition. For me, it’s not about just offense, it’s about defence. When you get stops, you can run and you can get easy baskets.”
Embiid is not leading the MVP charts only because he is having a superb scoring season but also for the impact and the leadership that he brings during the matches makes him a true MVP. He has done that throughout the season and Doc Rivers will hope that this was a small roadblock in their long path to glory this season.
