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Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid struggled once again in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semi-finals bout against the Toronto Raptors. The 25-year-old center managed to score only 11 points on 2-7 shooting. This is coming off the heels of his 33 point performance in Game 3, where he took 18 shots, and for Sixers forward Jimmy Butler, the team will need him to be more aggressive if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Raptors.
After Game 4 loss to Raptors, Sixers' Jimmy Butler on Joel Embiid: "Hell, if you're going to go 2-7, go 2-20. I'm with it. We rocking with Jo. That's what we need out of him: to always be aggressive." pic.twitter.com/WQtNvC0HAR
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 5, 2019
On a night when Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris were all non-factors on the offensive end, it was Butler who carried the load for the Sixers, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. However, it was clear that he needed help.
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Embiid's struggles can be attributed to the fact that he felt ill before the game. Sixers head coach Brett Brown admitted that the All-Star center didn't sleep well last night. It is worth noting that he has been dealing with knee issues throughout these playoffs and that he also suffered from the stomach flu in Game 2.
He hasn't been his usual self in three of the four games against the Raptors.
The Sixers and Raptors are now tied at two games apiece. However, Game 5 will be played in Toronto, and with the latter gaining the much-needed momentum, Embiid will need to step up big time in order to help his team gain the upper hand.
