Joel Embiid is second in the league (after the New Orleans Pelicans' DeMarcus Cousins who isn't that far ahead) in fouls drawn per game with 7.8 per 36 minutes. For comparison, that is slightly more than James Harden's 7.1 – which is excellent company either way given that the “Beard” is renowned for making a living at the charity stripe.
The postseason is the same story for the Sixers center (drawing about seven fouls a game) and a rate which ranks fifth in the NBA overall.
After the Sixers' overtime 101-98 loss to the Boston Celtics however, “The Process” was astounded that the players guarding him had zero fouls, alluding that the officiating was spotty.
Sixers' Joel Embiid on officiating after Game 3 loss to Celtics: "I don't see how it's possible for someone to guard me and have zero fouls. I thought a couple plays it wasn't fair… I'm too big not to be fouled every time I go to the basket or post up." pic.twitter.com/gjwuHQppju
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 6, 2018
Curiously, with the exception of Al Horford (who guarded Embiid sparingly), most of the Celtics racked up a good amount of fouls. The 7-footer's primary defender, Aron Baynes, actually almost fouled out only for the foul to be credited to guard Marcus Smart.
With regards to the officiating, the Sixers shot more free throws than the Celtics with 18 trips to the line compared to the latter's 14.
The Cameroon native's shot chart against the Celtics all season has been mostly away from the basket, with NBAsavant.com showing that the center only took 21 shots inside while he attempted 53 from the perimeter, including 18 from beyond the arc.
According to ESPN, Embiid's shot chart this game was a bit of a mixed bag with plenty of missed shots the farther he was away from the paint and he had more success when operating inside – although he did miss just the same amount of shots.
The Sixers are now down three games to none and hopes to make the next game competitive enough and avoid being swept.
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