Author of a new masterclass last night once morest the Celtics, Joel Embiid not only carried the Sixers to victory, but also sent a big message in the race for MVP. For his coach Doc Rivers, this race has just ended.
52 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, 20/25 shooting and 12/13 free throws, all once morest the second-best NBA team on record (and fourth-best defense). And nationally, what’s more.
This Triple XL performance, achieved while Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets shit in the glue in Houston (14 points, 10 rebounds and… 8 turnovers for the Joker in a 124-103 loss), is perhaps the one that definitely goes swing the MVP race in favor of Joel. At least that’s what Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers thinks.
“The MVP race is over. Really. Tonight, we got no shots. And he put half our points in an NBA game… The race is over. »pic.twitter.com/S0nHA68thq
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) April 5, 2023
Obviously, Rivers was not going to vote Jokic when his player has just achieved one of his best performances of the season. And he admits it himself, he is “not impartial” in this debate. But when we see the level of dominance of Embiid today, we can vote Joel while remaining perfectly objective.
Because if we still have in our throats his missed meeting once morest Jokic last week, Joel Embiid ticks all the boxes of an MVP. The one who scored more than half of his team’s points tonight (!) will normally finish as the season’s top scorer (33.3 points on average), he carries the Sixers to the podium in the Eastern Conference (record of 52 wins – 27 losses, similar to the Nuggets), he dominates on both sides of the field, while achieving some of his best performances this season in highly anticipated duels (notably once morest Jokic at the end of January). And for those who want to point out his number of missed games this year (14), know that Jokic only played three more games in the end (68 once morest 65).
JOEL EMBIID 50 PIECE ????️
52 PTS
13 REB
6 AST
80% FG
W pic.twitter.com/tcYz4bC4pa— NBA (@NBA) April 5, 2023
The closer we get to the finish line, the more it feels like it’s a good year for Joel Embiid, who has finished second to The Joker for the past two years. Is the race definitely over yet? We may not go as far as Doc Rivers knowing that the two pivots were really neck and neck just a few days ago, and that a certain Giannis Antetokounmpo still plays basketball. But Joel potentially took an option on the trophy.
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Source statement: post-match press conference
