Getty
Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers’ center, competes with LeBron James for the league’s MVP award this year.
The heated debate over whether Joel Embiid deserves this year’s MVP award has another loud voice in his corner. Former Philadelphia 76ers star and NBA legend Charles Barkley is all-in at the NBA’s best center.
Embiid averages 29.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in his fifth NBA season while playing the Received sixth most votes (nearly 4.2 million) for the All-Star game. He is the launching center for the Eastern Conference, and his name tops a small list of deserving candidates for MVP honors. According to Barkley, it’s Embiid versus LeBron James and Donovan Mitchell right now.
« If Joel Embiid is in the mail, he’s right there talking to LeBron and Donovan Mitchell for MVP this season because he just kills people », Barkley told the Bill Simmons podcast. « You put a little guy on him, he’ll just kill him in the mail. »
The fun-loving big man of the Sixers made the league famous while missing six games because of « back pain ». Embiid recently described using mind games to foul less savvy opponents, calling it « smarter, » and dismissing mind-boggling claims. His 11.3 free throws per game are number one in the NBA. « He only kills people because you can’t protect him, » Barkley said of Philly Voice. “You can’t protect this guy. He’s just too big, too strong, too fast. «
Everyone in Philadelphia has an opinion about Ben Simmons and his unwillingness to develop a middle-distance sweater. Arguably the best grip in professional basketball, he loves his play and positions teammates to keep looking simple.
But why can’t he step back and let his opponents pay from deep down? It’s a question that Sixers President Daryl Morey can no longer hear.
« The focus on the things he doesn’t do is pretty crazy for me personally, « Morey said of NBC Sports Philadelphia to Mike Missanelli of 97.5 The Fanatic. » The reality is if Ben was on another team where everyone on the ground was a shooter in space that would be optimal for Ben, but it wouldn’t be optimal for … his chances of winning a title. «
Simmons shoots 56.2% off the ground in 260 field goal attempts this year, but he only started six three-points (30 for s a career). His critics believe the point guard is too one-dimensional and becomes a liability in the playoffs.
Apparently, the All-Star voters agreed when Simmons finished eighth among qualified guards with 366,887 votes. He’ll have to rely on the league’s coaches to pick him as a reserve for the All-Star team.
Nobody came out and officially threw former coach Brett Brown under the bus, but it’s clear that one is little smoke. The Sixers played a better brand of basketball under Doc Rivers, as demonstrated by the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference. The offense was smoother and more fluid – and the players just seem to be locked up. It’s no coincidence.
After the Nets win tonight, Kevin Durant’s All-Star Team will be coached by either Doc Rivers or Steve Nash. Rivers will be the coach with a Philly win against Chicago tomorrow or Sunday in Toronto or a Nets loss against the Clippers Sunday. Nash will do it if none of that happens.
« I think we only grew in terms of maturity from last year to this year, and then you bring in Trainer Doc and Doc. He guarantees respect as soon as possible he walks in the door, « striker Tobias Harris told the Jalen & Jacoby podcast. « He was just locking people up. He’s holding us accountable night and night and the goal he’s trying to make the whole team come about is that we have a chance to win a championship and we have to get there. »
Ref: https://heavy.com
