Sixers react to Joel Embiid’s offensive struggles in road loss to Celtics
The Philadelphia 76ers, in general, had a tough offensive night on the road as they fell to the Boston Celtics 88-87 to begin a 4-game road trip. The team shot just 37.1% from the floor and 8-for-31 from deep in a game that was a slog from the jump.
Joel Embiid continued his rough shooting for a second straight game as he shot a miserable 3-for-17 from the floor and he also missed four free throws which is uncharacteristic of him. After having a huge game back in his return from COVID, Embiid is shooting just 7-for-33 over his previous two games now.
“Some guys come back quickly and play pretty well, a lot of guys have played the one great game when they’re back and then go into a little fog,” said coach Doc Rivers. “You can tell he’s definitely struggling just getting going. We just gotta keep playing him and let him play through it.”
Embiid did miss nine games after testing positive for COVID and that is something that could be holding him back a bit. He did erupt for 42 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves in his return, but it has been an obvious struggle over the last two games.
“I will never use it as an excuse, but it’s gonna take me a while to get back especially legs and cardio and all that stuff,” said Embiid. “Every single day, I just gotta keep working hard and keep getting better.”
With that being said, the Sixers are not going to change much with the big fella. Just let him continue to play through this and get him back in a rhythm a bit.
“We’ve done pretty well with Joel,” said Rivers. “So we’re gonna keep putting him in the same spots overall and he’ll respond. He’s a pretty good player.”
When Embiid is struggling as he did in this one, it is on the other Sixers to help get him going a bit. Seth Curry had 17 points to lead the way in this one, but there has to be more from him and others to get their best player going again.
“Just try to get him easier shots,” said Curry. “Some of the shots were tough, he obviously can make them, but just try to get him easier shots and find ways to get him going. It’s kind of a tricky game trying to get to the foul line. Some nights you’re not getting those calls, some nights he is so us as teammates, just try to attack and make it easy on him when we get the opportunity. We’ll go to him so that’s not gonna change. So we got to just figure out ways to get him going.”
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