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The Philadelphia 76ers saga continues after Tyrese Maxey called out Joel Embiid following their loss to the Miami Heat on Monday. In an article by The Athletic, they say that “The message, in essence, was that everything within their program starts with the big man and that he simply must be better when it comes to his leadership. Embiid, league and team sources say, heard the message while also expressing a lack of clarity and occasional frustration about how he is being used on the court.”
Embiid only posted 11 points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes of action. While he's bouncing back from a knee injury, it didn't help amidst the 2-11 76ers record. A majority of the blame was placed on Embiid. Still, head coach Nick Nurse and general manager Daryl Morey were caught in the crossfire. Although they were assured their jobs would be safe, it'll be a long look in the mirror to get this team on the right track.
The 76ers are the worst shooting team in the league and rank 29th in rebounding percentage. While they brought in veteran all-star Paul George, the flurry of injuries has lamented the team and the fanbase. Rookie Jared McCain has emerged as a bright spot, but the depth hasn't been there to propel this team to winning habits.
76ers will be fine amidst Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid moment
Luckily, the 76ers only sit four games behind the Miami Heat for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Despite their record, the talent and coaching staff will likely get it together. The conversation was mainly between Maxey and Embiid. However, discussions held the rest of the roster accountable as well, according to team sources. Both Maxey and Embiid are close friends, so the conversation struck close to home.
Also, a 2-11 record isn't ideal by any means, but it's only 13 games into the season. Considering the Eastern Conference has been fickle, they could secure proper standings in a matter of a few games. The former MVP hasn't performed up to his lofty expectations. Regardless, the tandem of him and Paul George dominated the free agency discussions.
With a subpar conference, the climb back looks entirely possible. The 76ers will travel and take on the Memphis Grizzlies before traveling back to Philadelphia and taking on the Brooklyn Nets. It might be a while before cooler heads prevail. But a motivated Joel Embiid could swing the pendulum back in the 76ers' favor.
