The Philadelphia 76ers are now facing an 0-3 hole following their 94-102 defeat to the Boston Celtics on Friday. But Joel Embiid is not waving the white flag just yet.
Following the Sixers' third straight letdown against the Celtics, the 26-year-old Cameroonian center addressed the possibility of getting swept.
“You can’t give up. I don’t want to be swept. I don’t want that in my resume. I’ve been playing my butt off. I’m going to come in [Game 4] and do everything that I can,” a disappointed Embiid said post-game, via a clip from Ben Golliver.
With his fellow All-Star Ben Simmons out of the playoffs due to a knee injury, Embiid has had to carry the load for head coach Brett Brown against the mighty Celtics. The seven-foot slotman once again dazzled for the Sixers, putting up game-highs of 30 points and 13 rebounds, while shooting 7-for-20 from the field and 2-of-5 from past the arc.
Embiid finished with strong double-doubles in the last three games, despite facing constant double teams from Boston. The Sixers were on track to getting the W on Friday night, up until defensive lapses and poor shot selection cost them the game in the closing minutes.
Joel Embiid, meanwhile, has certainly given the once destitute franchise some hope following Sam Hinkie's “The Process” era. The Sixers have advanced to the second round of the East the past two seasons, thanks in large part to Embiid's ascent to superstardom.
Philly, however, failed to live up to the high expectations that they had entering the 2019-20 campaign. The Sixers' possible first-round exit will certainly have huge ramifications on Joel Embiid's future with the team.