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76ers

ATLANTA (AP) &mdash; The Hawks return to Atlanta beaming with confidence in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers despite their inability to slow down, much less stop, Joel Embiid.
The 76ers big man has scored 79 points in the first two games at Philadelphia to open the series, which is tied 1-1 heading into Friday's Game 3 in Atlanta &mdash; where the Hawks have won 13 consecutive games.
It's the longest active home winning streak in the NBA.
&ldquo;I hope fans are ready to rock the house on Friday,&rdquo; Trae Young said after Philadelphia's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-atlanta-hawks-shake-milton-milton-nba-8841cfdf5414737f5eaf27fc891c5811">118-102 win</a> in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
The Hawks will need their fans &mdash; but they also know they have to correct some issues on the court.
They expect better outside shooting from Young and his backcourt partner Bogdan Bogdanovic. And until they find a defensive combination to slow Embiid, Atlanta will have to do a better job of containing his teammates.
The challenge of containing the 76ers' outside shooting grew Wednesday when the Hawks announced De'Andre Hunter will miss the remainder of the postseason.
Hunter, the team&rsquo;s top perimeter defender, has been scheduled for surgery on his right knee in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He was held out the first two games due to soreness in the knee. After he had swelling in the knee, the Hawks say tests found a new small tear of his lateral meniscus.
Hunter averaged 15 points in his second season but was limited by the knee injury to only 23 games.
After finishing second to Denver's Nikola Jokic in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-nuggets-nikola-jokic-kobe-bryant-europe-nba-403d6cca735519dfd230e6b61675222e">MVP voting</a> announced before Game 2, Embiid had 40 points and 13 rebounds. The 7-foot Embiid, listed at 280 pounds, has simply overpowered Atlanta center Clint Capela (6-10, 240).
Embiid recognizes the challenge that awaits the 76ers in Atlanta.
&ldquo;The series is only 1-1,&rdquo; Embiid said. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing to really be happy about. We have to go over there and try to win both and take one of them at a time.&rdquo;
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Embiid is playing with a cartilage tear in his right knee.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m trying to do the best I can, limited movement and all,&rdquo; Embiid said.
If Embiid has been limited, it hasn't been obvious. He was active in Game 2, even extending his defensive presence to help disturb Young&rsquo;s outside shooting.
&ldquo;Obviously he&rsquo;s very skilled,&rdquo; Capela said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s one of the best at his position. Just try to make it as hard as you can for him.&rdquo;
But Embiid can't do it alone. Atlanta proved that in its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pa-state-wire-new-york-knicks-atlanta-hawks-philadelphia-76ers-nba-f95457641bd62e86ea676941b7633ff0">128-124 Game 1 win,</a> showing that even a dominant performance by Embiid alone is not enough. He had 39 points in that loss.
With Young and Bogdanovic combining to make only 3 of 13 3-point shots in Game 2, Philadelphia&rsquo;s Shake Milton made four 3s while playing only 14 minutes off the bench.
Milton was a difference-maker, but Embiid had more help in the 76ers' balanced Game 2 attack. Tobias Harris had 22 points, including 16 in the first quarter. Seth Curry had 21 points while making five 3s.
The loss of Hunter only adds urgency to the challenge of making it tougher for Embiid to score.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a problem down in the post,&rdquo; said Hawks coach Nate McMillan. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re trying to mix up our defense with him. At times he&rsquo;s getting too deep. Our double teams are not getting there quick enough. ... He pretty much has had his way in the first two games down on the block.&rdquo;
The Hawks expect there to be lot of energy at State Farm Arena, where their last lost came on April 15 against Milwaukee. Atlanta won both home games while taking its first-round series against the New York Knicks in five games.
But despite Atlanta's recent home dominance, the 76ers are favored by 1 1/2 points in Game 3, according to <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/">FanDuel Sportsbook</a>.
Atlanta is looking to beat the odds and continue to exceed playoff expectations.
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The Hawks return to Atlanta beaming with confidence in their series against the 76ers despite their inability to slow down Joel Embiid.

Hawks remain confident vs. 76ers despite Joel Embiid's dominance

Mat Issa compares seasons of past star big men to the campaigns that Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are putting together in 2021-22.

Measuring Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid's seasons vs. historic NBA bigs

With increased pace and perimeter-centric offenses, we often hear that individual statistics are inflated, and that those players wouldn&rsquo;t put up those kinds of numbers against their predecessors. Well, even if that&rsquo;s the case for some guards and forwards, it sure as hell doesn&rsquo;t apply to Joel Embiid, whose game would thrive into the past, present or future.
The 7-foot, 280-pounder is coming off an MVP-caliber season -- an untimely hyperextended knee injury in mid-March forced him out for 10 games and allowed Nikola Jokic to capitalize on the missed time -- and he&rsquo;s finally healthy, which has allowed us to feast our eyes on the array of weapons in his arsenal.
Embiid is fit for any era of ball.&nbsp;
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You want to muck up the game and go through the post? He&rsquo;s got you there&hellip; only not in the way most players his size go about it. Playing back to the basket with a physical and mental advantage, Embiid doesn&rsquo;t do his damage by settling for hook shots in the mid-post; one way or another, he&rsquo;ll use his footwork to get deep positioning for a point-blank look at the basket.&nbsp;
And somehow, that&rsquo;s not even his go-to choice on the block. Embiid has no problem sizing up his competition with a Carmelo Anthony-like jab step and firing a feathery 15-footer that&rsquo;s fallen 68.8% of the time for the Philadelphia 76ers in their playoff series vs. the Washington Wizards. Oftentimes, he&rsquo;ll fall back too, which makes the shot impossible to contest or block.
Maybe the scariest tool in Embiid&rsquo;s bag of tricks is how deceptive he is off the dribble. He can get you on your heels before you know it. Out on the perimeter, he can always settle for a three (and knock them down -- a 6-for-11 clip thus far and 37.7% on the season); however, it just looks like he has more fun when he puts it on the floor. Light pump fake, crossover, dribble between the legs, spin move, stepback, fadeaway -- they can all lead to points on the scoreboard&hellip; frequently, with emphasis.
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JOEL EMBIID WITH AUTHORITY 🔨 <a href="https://t.co/uO0qKpQCSe">pic.twitter.com/uO0qKpQCSe</a>
&mdash; NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1398794933826330627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

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As said on Keepin&rsquo; It 94, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/keepin-it-94" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my podcast with Brian Fritz</a>, the way Embiid can just stop on a dime full speed for a pull-up mid-ranger as if he&rsquo;s a 6-foot-4 guard is astounding. The best part about his isolation game is that it is aesthetically pleasing and feels as natural as it looks. It&rsquo;s not a clunky route to the bucket that&rsquo;s easy to pickpocket; it&rsquo;s calculated with long strides and great reads on who&rsquo;s defending him.
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Joel Embiid has been a MONSTER this season. <a href="https://twitter.com/SpinDavies?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpinDavies</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianFritz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrianFritz</a> discussed his dominance and more on this week's episode of "Keepin' it 94." Listen to the full episode! Apple: <a href="https://t.co/Sz8GhlzCBm">https://t.co/Sz8GhlzCBm</a> Spotify: <a href="https://t.co/cxM0X8ocOC">https://t.co/cxM0X8ocOC</a> Stitcher: <a href="https://t.co/1ryRArxRvp">https://t.co/1ryRArxRvp</a> <a href="https://t.co/9UCo8w5Jx3">pic.twitter.com/9UCo8w5Jx3</a>
&mdash; Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1359990563366440965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

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He&rsquo;s only turned the ball over once on his 17 iso possessions in this series, <a href="https://basketball.instatscout.com/players/26751/playtypes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per InStat</a>, and he&rsquo;s 20-for-30 on shots made with <a href="https://go.nba.com/27h9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15-to-7 seconds left on the shot clock</a>.
Embiid&rsquo;s also been able to scan the floor, look over the top and find his shooters. It doesn&rsquo;t happen quite often, but when doubles come around that mid-post area, it results in triples for Seth Curry and Danny Green. His favorite passing partner is Ben Simmons in the two-man game, whether he&rsquo;s on the receiving end or targeting the Aussie on a cut.
We all know how imposing of a presence he is defensively, staying grounded and rarely committing foolish fouls. He&rsquo;s got good timing as a rim protector, has the agility to recover against drivers, uses his towering arms to discourage teams from coming into the paint and always knows when to shade over and help if one of his teammates needs it.&nbsp;
But this offensive showing has been first-class all around. Players at his position do not create their own shots the way Embiid does, and in the rare case where somebody comes close to it, they aren&rsquo;t nearly as efficient.&nbsp;
In this series, Embiid is averaging 29.3 points on a 78.4% True Shooting percentage. His latest performance was a career night, with 36 points in 28 minutes -- the <a href="https://twitter.com/_JimmyMcCormick/status/1398834397651087362?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second-fewest minutes for that high of a scoring output in NBA playoff history in the shot-clock era</a>.&nbsp;
Embiid is leading the league in postseason net rating (plus-39.6 points per 100 possessions) and commandeering a sizzling, top-seeded team that&rsquo;s poised for bigger things than a first-round series victory.
Sounding completely cliche, it&rsquo;s easy to see why the Sixers Trust(ed) The Process. Embiid is a one-man wrecking crew. Nobody has been able to slow this nimble monster down, and with Philly being one win away from advancing to round two, it&rsquo;s hard to think about who&rsquo;s going to be able to actually do it.

Spencer Davies breaks down Joel Embiid's dominance for the Philadelphia 76ers and why he's been so special.

Joel Embiid's offensive showing for 76ers has been first-class all around

The&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/joel-embiid-calls-once-rivaled-boston-celtics-easy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Someone should tell Joel Embiid that it&rsquo;s not fair to kick someone when they&rsquo;re already down &mdash; because after he led a blowout win over the bumbling Boston Celtics, Embiid dropped a truth bomb on the very team that sent him home in two playoff series.
Embiid is not impressed by the Celtics
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Joel Embiid, on their improved defensive execution tonight: "Charlotte, they move the ball extremely well and they have shooters all over the place, and they made a bunch of jump shots. Boston is more of an iso heavy team, so it becomes easier to load up and try to stop them."
&mdash; Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/DerekBodnerNBA/status/1482194963421138945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Does it hurt more for the fans of Boston that he was being brutally honest? If he was just trolling for a funny reaction, at least then you know the comment is a little distorted. Hell, you can ever fire a shot back. But in this instance, he&rsquo;s purely pointing out the harsh reality &mdash; leaving Celtics fans tongue-tied without a comeback.
Sitting at 22-22, just outside of participating in the NBA's play-in tournament, the Celtics have been a disaster, with blown leads (most in NBA), weekly vacancies due to health and safety protocols (most in league) and an onslaught of public inter-team callouts (their own coach leads this category).
The worst of these callouts came from their starting point guard, Marcus Smart, who expressed his displeasure about the lack of ball movement and reliance on isolation plays. Shocker, I know. &nbsp;
&ldquo;Every team knows we&rsquo;re trying to go to Jayson and Jaylen. Every team is programmed and studied to stop Jayson and Jaylen. I think everybody&rsquo;s scouting report is to make those guys pass the ball&hellip; They don&rsquo;t want to pass the ball. That&rsquo;s something that they&rsquo;re going to learn. They&rsquo;re still learning,&rdquo; said Smart after the Celtics became the first team ever to blow a 14-point fourth quarter lead. They would then lose by 14 points against the Bulls in an early November game.&rdquo;
Good to see they haven&rsquo;t changed!
No real synergy in the way they play
With the flames getting higher with each passing week, the Boston Celtics have made it clear they have no interest in <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-case-against-and-for-separating-jayson-tatum-and-jaylen-brown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">splitting up the All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown</a>, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/celtics-have-no-interest-in-trading-jayson-tatum-or-jaylen-brown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Shams Charania of The Athletic</a>. No one is calling for that drastic move but, clearly, something needs to be done.&nbsp;
According to NBA advanced stats, the Celtics <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/isolation/?sort=POSS_PCT&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rank third in isolation plays</a>. They are also the only team in the NBA with three players in the top-45 most frequent iso players. Tatum is third. This makes their game not only stagnant and more easily defendable &mdash; it's also boring for the players. No one wants to commit to a spiritless system of waiting around for one guy to make his move. The fact that we know that means explosive free agents do, too.
There are a hundred different ways to explain why the Boston team that wiped the floor with Joel Embiid two playoffs ago is now a helpless second-rate team fighting for a play-in tournament chance &mdash; but the stylistic dynamic of Brown and Tatum, which is the reason for the predictable iso play, could be the biggest reason.&nbsp;
Their two best guys don&rsquo;t complement each other, past Tatum sometimes getting doubled and trying to find Brown. They share similar heights, so they don&rsquo;t benefit from swapping defenders. That&rsquo;s why they play like they're in a game of 21, because they have an understanding of that avenue as a way to work off each other.&nbsp;
They should start turning a corner a bit, since they now have the seventh easiest schedule <a href="https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Tankathon</a>. But their fundamental problem won&rsquo;t perish without a great point guard to create plays and get others more involved. Until then, this will likely not be the only rib shot the team and its fans must endure.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Joel Embiid delivered a ruthless shot of truth about the Celtics' offensive style.

Joel Embiid calls once-rival Celtics 'easy'

The&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/joel-embiid-criticizes-nba-covid-protocol/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Nearly two years after the NBA suspended its season due to the onset of COVID-19 among players, the coronavirus pandemic continues to plague the NBA, as teams continue to suffer from shortages in personnel due to the league's health and safety protocols.
As COVID cases continue to rise, the NBA maintains that it will &ldquo;trust the science&rdquo; and let it guide the league in managing the situation. But once again, it seems as if things are starting to get out of hand. The Philadelphia 76ers are one of many teams that have been hampered by the health and safety protocols. Sixers big man Joel Embiid had a tough bout with the virus early in the season.
&ldquo;I really thought I wasn&rsquo;t going to make it," Embiid said to reporters when he exited the protocols earlier this season.
Embiid is now back in action, but the Sixers have had a number of players sidelined throughout the season. Philadelphia started the season shorthanded due to the absence of All-Star point guard Ben Simmons and, like the rest of the league, the health and safety protocols are making an already challenging season even more difficult for Embiid and the crew.
&ldquo;I thought last year there was great precautions in place and this year it was just all over the place, and I just thought it was unprofessional and that&rsquo;s where we are now," Embiid told reporters recently.
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Joel Embiid on increase in NBA COVID cases: "I thought last year there was great precautions in place and this year it was just all over the place and I just thought it was unprofessional and that's where we are now." Full quote below: <a href="https://t.co/6lTPtm0aGy">pic.twitter.com/6lTPtm0aGy</a>
&mdash; Yaron Weitzman (@YaronWeitzman) <a href="https://twitter.com/YaronWeitzman/status/1471690136060579844?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The NBA continues to enforce its health and safety protocols. Still, the rules are only as good as those adhering to it. Embiid believes that he and his peers can do a better job of taking the necessary actions to help curb the rising number of players entering the protocols.
&ldquo;We all got to protect each other," Embiid said. "Whether it&rsquo;s wearing masks, making sure whatever you do outside of basketball, that you think about your teammates, their family or your own family."
It&rsquo;s a shame that we continue to see players in and out of lineups due to the protocols, but unfortunately, this is the new normal in the NBA. Even with 97% of the league vaccinated, it seems that players missing time and games being postponed will be a regular occurrence.
Hopefully the NBA will find a more effective way to manage the COVID outbreaks going forward.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Joel Embiid was quite opinionated on how the league has been less cautious this season.

Joel Embiid slams NBA's health and safety protocols

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Joel Embiid has entered health and safety protocols, sources tell&nbsp;The Athletic&nbsp;and Stadium.&nbsp;
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1457759451805540358" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Embiid becomes yet another Sixer to enter the league's protocols. Charania reports that today was supposed to be a scheduled rest day anyway, but the star big man could now miss several games. Charania also added that a "significant amount of 76ers staff has received the COVID-19 booster shot, and players were slated to begin receiving their shots this week."

Shams Charania reports that the star big man could now miss several games.

Joel Embiid enters league health and safety protocols

Ben Simmons has said that he no longer wishes to play with Joel Embiid, though he says it is not personal.
Source: <a href="https://theathletic.com/2854156/2021/09/28/ben-simmons-believes-playing-with-joel-embiid-has-run-its-course-and-sixers-media-day-messages-fall-flat-with-him/?source=twitterhq">Sam Amick/The Athletic</a>
ANALYSIS:
Yet more pressure from Ben Simmons for the Sixers to trade him has come out.
Simmons and Embiid's fits have long been debated despite relative success together, making the playoffs all four seasons they've been together.
Ben Simmons shared a +16.3 net rating with Joel Embiid in 1479 minutes last season, and had a -4 net rating in 801 minutes without him according to <a href="https://www.addmorefunds.com/nba/wowy/">nbawowy</a>.
&nbsp;
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Ben Simmons has concluded that he's done playing with Joel Embiid, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/sam_amick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sam_amick</a>. While it's not personal, Simmons believes that playing around Embiid&rsquo;s style isn&rsquo;t conducive to the way he needs to play. 📚: <a href="https://t.co/xNDXBZQypb">https://t.co/xNDXBZQypb</a> <a href="https://t.co/6uQAxbq7q9">pic.twitter.com/6uQAxbq7q9</a>
&mdash; The Athletic (@TheAthletic) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/1442837336958590977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

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&nbsp;

Ben Simmons says that he's done playing with Joel Embiid.

Ben Simmons says he's done playing with Joel Embiid

The NBA <a href="https://pr.nba.com/embiid-community-assist-march21/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced in a statement</a> that Joel Embiid received the March NBA Cares Community Assist award for his work in the Philadelphia community.
The 76ers star worked to address homelessness in Philadelphia by donating $100,000 to Youth Services Inc., Project HOME and Sunday Breakfast Mission. He also was part of a $1.3 million donation to Penn Medicine in their efforts to combat COVID-19.
&ldquo;I am humbled to be recognized as the recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award,&rdquo; Embiid said in the statement. &ldquo;It has always been incredibly important for me to use the platform I have been given to create positive change. Housing insecurity and homelessness affect so many in our communities, and we need to come together, now more than ever, to support one another. I am proud to support organizations like Covenant House Pennsylvania that are working every day to provide essential resources and services.&rdquo;

Embiid made significant donations to Philly-area organizations that combat housing insecurity.

Joel Embiid receives March NBA Cares Community Assist award

There&rsquo;s optimism 76ers star Joel Embiid will return on Saturday vs. Minnesota following a three-week absence due to COVID-19. Embiid has been ramping up this week. 
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1463595449395388418" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: The Sixers have struggled in Embiid's absence, winning just two of their last eight games. If Embiid cannot go on Saturday, Charania added that Monday against Orlando would also be a possibility for the big man to return.

According to The Athletic, 76ers center Joel Embiid could return from his 3-week COVID-19 absence on Saturday vs. Minnesota.

Joel Embiid (COVID) could return to action Saturday vs. Minnesota

Joel Embiid responded to reports that Ben Simmons does not want to play <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ben-simmons-says-hes-done-playing-with-joel-embiid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on the same team as him</a> due to fit. Embiid disagrees, stating that he thinks the Sixers have catered to Simmons' playstyle a great deal.
"I feel our teams have been built [around Simmons], whether it's the shooting needed or stretch-five and all that stuff, I feel like he's always had it here," Embiid said. "And we still have it... It was kind of surprising to see. Even going back to, I mean, the reason we signed Al [Horford]. We got rid of Jimmy [Butler], which I still think was a mistake, just to make sure he needed the ball in his hands, and that's the decision they made.
"Like I said, it's surprising. But I'm really focused on the guys that are here. The situation is disappointing [and] borderline kind of disrespectful to all of the guys that are out here fighting for their lives. Some guys rely on the team being successful to stay in the league and make money somehow."
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/kyleneubeck/status/1443638882881396736?s=21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Neubeck/The Philly Voice</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Embiid is right that the team has prioritized Ben Simmons' fit at times, choosing to pay Simmons a max salary while letting Jimmy Butler walk.
The Sixers' starting lineup did feature four players with three-point percentages greater than 38%, though it was on a relatively low volume and the team was just 23rd in made threes last season.
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Joel Embiid, who does note the Sixers are better with Ben Simmons around, says today that report suggesting they're not a fit together is "borderline disrespectful" to other guys on the team in a wide-ranging answer <a href="https://t.co/UUeu5xtNAK">pic.twitter.com/UUeu5xtNAK</a>
&mdash; Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleNeubeck/status/1443638882881396736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Joel Embiid responded to reports that Ben Simmons does not want to play on the same team as him due to fit.

Joel Embiid calls report of Simmons wanting out 'borderline disrespectful'

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was fined $35,000 by the NBA for escalating an on-court altercation in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Atlanta.
Embiid fell on top of John Collins on the court in Game 6. Collins then shoved Embiid before both rose to their feet. Embiid had his arms stretched out wide with Collins&rsquo; hands around his neck as both walked off the court under the basket.
Officials reviewed the altercation and called technical fouls on each player with no free throws awarded.
The NBA said Sunday Embiid also failed to comply with an NBA Security interview following the incident.
Atlanta Hawks forward Bruno Fernando was suspended for Sunday's Game 7 for leaving the bench area during the spat.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Joel Embiid was fined $35,000 by the NBA for escalating an on-court altercation in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Atlanta.

NBA fines 76ers' Joel Embiid $35,000 for Game 6 altercation

The understated highlight to Trae Young&rsquo;s Game 1 performance against the Philadelphia 76ers was a simple turnaround floater on the left baseline in the fourth quarter. Philly&rsquo;s defenders were frozen in place, and one of the many pushes the Sixers made in the final minutes was snuffed out again. Young made the shot and promptly skipped away, seemingly pleased with his performance and the arena&rsquo;s relative silence -- the equivalent to kicking sand in the eyes of the Sixers&rsquo; animated, blue-collar crowd.
The Atlanta Hawks&rsquo; first-round matchup against a darling New York Knicks team introduced everyone to a necessary character in the league&rsquo;s postseason soap opera: the villain. In order to fill this role, a player must be skilled enough to frustrate opposing fans and confident enough to relish the role by absorbing blows from detrimentally competitive players and fans alike. Young was bodychecked by Nerlens Noel on his way to the locker room, which led to cleared benches and a scuffle behind him as he continued his stroll and straightened his posture, looking a little impressed at his ability to provoke. He was spat on by a fan before an inbound pass, declining to press charges and opting to continue the series without distraction.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s at this point that Knicks fans came to a terrifying realization: with every shaken fist and raised middle finger, Young consumes their energy like a Dragon-Ball-Z alien antagonist, ready to return the enthusiasm on the court in the form of deep threes and woven pick-and-rolls.
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This dynamic that audiences enjoyed so much in Atlanta&rsquo;s first-round matchup will likely carry over into round two. And in Joel Embiid, we may get twice the chosen violence. Both stars love talking to hostile crowds as monolithic viewers, mouthing taunts and smirking, skipping, shuffling, and thrusting their hips after especially impressive baskets. It&rsquo;s great.
These two franchise cornerstones have an alternative understanding of their positions as NBA superstars, an understanding more camp and audacious. Young and Embiid see cameras, a tipsy audience and adjust accordingly &mdash; as evidenced by Young&rsquo;s literal bow after a 30-foot exclamation point against the Knicks in Game 5.&nbsp;
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As self-appointed performers, the overzealous joy and villainy they bring is in refreshing contrast to the players too cool for such antics. Yeah, you may get a smirk out of Kevin Durant, a blank expression out of Kawhi Leonard, and maybe a gesture to Dame Lillard&rsquo;s imagined watch when he&rsquo;s feeling particularly sassy, but these measured responses don&rsquo;t compare. 
When players behave as theatrically as Embiid and Young, they do so completely prepared for the inevitable response and potential embarrassment they&rsquo;ll undoubtedly receive for those inefficient, off nights. Young will bow after eliminating your team, but he&rsquo;ll take a loss on the chin too. Embiid will taunt opponents after an and-1, but he'll cry when he loses on a Game 7 buzzer-beater. They have an ability to remind us of the fun in the game -- a reminder that enjoying these moments rather than focusing on long-term narratives is where this excitement exists. Also, both sides of the spectrum show how much they care about this game.
To be treated to not one, but two agents of chaotic confidence has already proven special after Game 1.
Being listed as a game-time decision wasn&rsquo;t enough suspense for Embiid; he had to up the ante. WWE star Triple H was the franchise&rsquo;s bell-ringer for this matchup. As a reference to what has become a viral on-court celebration for the big man, Embiid walked onto the court alongside Triple H donning a DX &lsquo;Thrust The Process&rsquo; shirt. This latest addition to his &lsquo;Process&rsquo; lore (following the &lsquo;Phantom of the Process') set the stage for the antics we can expect to see all series long.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
this is the absolute peak for any Attitude Era/NBA fans out there. haven't been this hype since Rodman walked out with the NWO. <a href="https://t.co/2O2iVF9tWW">pic.twitter.com/2O2iVF9tWW</a>
&mdash; Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1401590327098683398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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 But &lsquo;Ice Trae&rsquo; is an equally pompous competitor who loves the spotlight. Young utilized his every acquired skill in a single Sunday afternoon, slicing up the Sixers&rsquo; defensive gameplan by forcing a multitude of adjustments in the form of traps and full-court presses, all while contributing 10 assists to get his teammates involved.&nbsp;
The Sixers were initially taken aback by the way the star guard immediately dictated the rules of engagement, though it didn&rsquo;t take long for Embiid to join in on the fun, repeatedly calling for the ball in the post during the final minutes of the game and contorting his body into layups to induce contact (punctuated with an accomplished yell each time).&nbsp;
Atlanta ultimately came away with the win, but it's already safe to say that this series is primed to be a bright spot of the postseason, and these stars are ready for the challenge&hellip; to say the least.
&nbsp;"All the individual stuff is for the birds...&rdquo; Young said following the Game 1 win. &ldquo;All we care about is wins."

Trae Young and Joel Embiid know how to put on a show. They love hostile crowds and big stages, which is why this series should be fun.

Joel Embiid has met his theatrical match in Trae Young

The NBA announced that Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have won Player of the Month honors for the month of December.
Here is the official release from the NBA:
"Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have been named the NBA Players of the Month for the month of December.
The dynamic guard (Donovan Mitchell) powered Utah to a dominant 12-2 December with averages of 30.2 points, 5.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals over 12 games. Mitchell capped off the month with a season-high 39 points against the Timberwolves on Dec. 31. The Jazz (27-10) are currently the 3rd seed in the West standings.
The All-NBA center (Joel Embiid) led Philadelphia in December with averages of 29.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks over 13 games. Embiid tallied eight double-doubles that month and scored a season-high 43 points with 15 rebounds and seven assists in a win against the Hornets on Dec. 6. The Sixers (20-16) are currently the 6th seed in the East standings."
Other nominees included:
West: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) and LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
East: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kyle Lowry (Miami Heat) and Fred VanVleet (Toronto Raptors)

The NBA named Donovan Mitchell and Joel Embiid players of the month for December.

Donovan Mitchell, Joel Embiid named Players of the Month for December

Trae Young overcame a cold start to score 25 points, including a floater that gave Atlanta the lead with 1:17 remaining, and the Hawks rallied to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 103-100 on Monday night, tying the Eastern Conference semifinal at 2-2.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Trae Young threw DIMES tonight 👀 25 PTS | 18 AST | 57.8 FPTS Hawks win a thriller to tie the series up 2-2! <a href="https://t.co/PEDMFXf8dn">pic.twitter.com/PEDMFXf8dn</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1404625574321180673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Philly blew an 18-point lead and may have bigger concerns: Big man Joel Embiid spent time in the locker room in the second quarter and didn't make a field goal in the second half. Embiid has been playing with torn cartilage in his right knee.
Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 22 points for the Hawks, and John Collins had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Young made only 8 of 26 shots but had 18 assists.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.
Embiid finished with 17 points and 21 rebounds. Tobias Harris scored 20 points for the Sixers, and Seth Curry had 17, missing a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Sixers led 60-42 late in the first half but Atlanta chipped away in the third quarter. Bogdanovic opened the final period with a 3-pointer to give Atlanta its first lead of the half, 83-82.
Philadelphia led 98-94 before Collins' 3-pointer cut the lead to one point. Young's floater with 1:17 remaining gave Atlanta a 99-98 lead, and his two free throws when fouled by Embiid pushed the advantage to three.
The Hawks hung on from there, catching a break when Embiid missed a layup and the Sixers knocked the ball out of bounds with 7.8 seconds remaining.
Harris has scored at least 20 points in seven consecutive playoff games.
Young missed his first five shots from the field and had his right shoulder wrapped when he sat on the bench early in the second quarter. The Hawks did not announce an injury.
Young's frustration showed when he complained after being called for a foul on Embiid in the second quarter, leading to a technical foul.
After his shoulder was wrapped, Young made a short floater and then connected on two 3-pointers.
Embiid made a 3 after his time in the locker room. But he finished 4 of 20 from the floor &mdash; hardly the production the Sixers need from their star, who shot 51.3% in the regular season.
Hawks coach Nate McMillan tweaked his lineup, moving Kevin Huerter off the bench to replace Solomon Hill at small forward. The position has been in flux since De'Andre Hunter, the team's top perimeter defender, was lost for the remainder of the postseason with a right knee injury.
Ben Simmons was called for a flagrant-one foul after he hit Collins to stop Collins' attempt for a breakaway jam with 3:24 remaining in the third.
TIP-INS
76ers: Embiid's nine first-quarter rebounds are the most for a 76ers player in any quarter of a playoff game since the 1996-97 season. He had 13 points and 10 rebounds at halftime, his third career double-double in the first half of a playoff game. ... Furkan Korkmaz had 10 points after he was coach Doc Rivers&rsquo; choice to replace starting guard Danny Green, who suffered a strained right calf early in Game 3 and did not return. Green is expected to miss at least two weeks.
Hawks: Hunter is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday in Los Angeles to repair a tear of his lateral meniscus in the knee. ... Clint Capela had 12 points and 13 rebounds.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Trae Young overcame a cold start to score 25 points, including a floater that gave Atlanta the lead late, and the Hawks rallied to beat the 76ers.

Trae Young leads Hawks' rally past Sixers with Joel Embiid hurting

Joel Embiid (right knee) will play and start in Game 1 of the Sixers-Hawks Eastern Conference Semifinals today (1:00 p.m., ABC).
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1401576631601348610" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Embiid was previously labeled as a game-time decision due to his right knee injury. The star center averaged 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game to catapult the 76ers to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but he missed the final contest in Philadelphia's five-game first round win over the Washington Wizards.

Embiid was previously described as a game-time decision before the matchup.

Joel Embiid (knee) will play in Game 1 vs. Atlanta Hawks

Joel Embiid's status for Game 1 of Philadelphia's playoff series is still unknown because of a cartilage tear in his knee.
The 76ers center remained day to day, and coach Doc Rivers said no decision has been made on the All-Star's availability for Game 1 against Atlanta.
The Sixers are set to open their second-round playoff series with the Hawks at home Sunday.
Embiid has small lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. He did not participate in live drills during Friday's practice.
&ldquo;He's got to go through his treatment,&rdquo; Rivers said Friday. &ldquo;As far as when we were doing shooting and stuff like that, he looked great. It's too early (to rule him out). I don't want to say one way or the other. We'll just find that out.&rdquo;
Embiid missed the Sixers' first-round Eastern Conference playoff clincher against Washington after he was hurt Monday.
The 27-year-old Embiid averaged 28.5 points and 10.6 rebounds this season and was named an NBA MVP finalist.
The Sixers are the top seed in the Eastern Conference and will also host Game 2 on Tuesday.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Joel Embiid's status for Game 1 of Philadelphia's playoff series is still unknown because of a cartilage tear in his knee.

Joel Embiid still uncertain to play for 76ers with knee injury

WASHINGTON (AP) &mdash; The &ldquo;M-V-P!&rdquo; chants came not from the home crowd saluting Bradley Beal but rival 76ers fans for Joel Embiid, who put on another valuable performance to push the Wizards to the brink of elimination.
Embiid set a career playoff high with 36 points and Philadelphia routed Washington 132-103 on Saturday night to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-nba-sports-08392b92d17a23ea210e816627c489ca">Embiid</a> scored 25 points in the first half, and finished 14 of 18 from the floor in 28 minutes before resting the entire fourth quarter. The top-seeded 76ers will go for the sweep in Game 4 on Monday.
His signature moment of this victory came seconds after he missed a monster dunk, going back down the floor and <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1398794668448550915">connecting</a> on his next attempt while drawing a foul. Embiid then <a href="https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1398796091655663624">cupped his hands to his ears</a> to encourage the crowd of over 10,000, which was the largest to attend an indoor sporting event in the nation's capital in 14 months.
The reaction was mixed then and throughout as the 76ers kept the Wizards at arm's length before pulling away. Beyond seven minutes in, it was never closer than four points, and Philadelphia led by as many as 31 on the way to the franchise's first 3-0 series lead since 1985.
The 76ers took advantage of the Wizards' biggest stars nursing injuries, though they still produced. Russell Westbrook had 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for the triple-double after being a game-time decision with a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/va-state-wire-philadelphia-76ers-washington-wizards-nba-sports-1df496a39d32df989254f81e3209dd7a">sprained right ankle</a>, and Beal had 25 as he continues to get back to full health from a strained left hamstring.
Ben Simmons scored 14 and had nine assists, but Philadelphia was far from a two-man show. Tobias Harris had 20 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, and Danny Green made five 3-pointers to finish with 15.
The 76ers shot 58.6% from the field, including 51.5% from 3-point range.
LIMPING WESTBROOK
The Wizards planned to get Westbrook treatment in the locker room each time he checked out of the game. Problem was, they couldn't afford to play without him, even as the ankle was bothering him.
Westbrook played almost 21 minutes in the first half and over 34 total before heading to the locker room late in the blowout. It was no surprise he played through pain given Washington's hole in the series, and Philadelphia wasn't expecting Westbrook to sit out.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll do our thing, coach Doc Rivers said. &rdquo;That should not change how we play."
GAMBLING HISTORY
The game was the first playoff contest to be played at a major sports arena in the U.S. with an active sportsbook. The William Hill venue, which was accessible for fans from the 200 level, <a href="https://apnews.com/ab4a32e8c1e762002a56ec08bc6e83f4">opened Wednesday</a>.
TIP-INS
76ers: All five starters scored in double figures. ... Joined the 2020 Utah Jazz, 2019 Golden State Warriors, 1987 Los Angeles Lakers and 1986 Boston Celtics in scoring 120-plus points in each of their first three postseason games. The Lakers and Celtics went on to win the NBA title. ... Set a franchise record for points through three quarters with 109. ... Green passed Paul Pierce to move into 12th on the playoff career 3-pointers list.
Wizards: Westbrook tied Jason Kidd for third in NBA history with his 11th career postseason triple-double. ... Davis Bertans started in place of Raul Neto with coach Scott Brooks looking for more size. ... Georgetown coach and former New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing was in attendance and got a nice ovation from the crowd when shown on video screens.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Joel Embiid set a career-playoff-high with 36 points and Philadelphia routed Washington 132-103 on Saturday night to take a 3-0 lead.

Joel Embiid, 76ers rout Wizards to take 3-0 series lead

76ers star Joel Embiid (knee) is expected to return on Saturday vs. Minnesota. 
Source: <a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1377416498914885632" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: The MVP candidate has been out of the lineup since going down with a bone bruise on March 12th, but seems to be on track to make his return to the court this Saturday, which would mark three weeks since the injury. Embiid resumed on-court activities last weekend and the 76ers plan to provide a formal update on his availability this coming Friday.
Embiid is averaging 29.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game for Philadelphia this season.

Barring any setbacks, 76ers' Joel Embiid is set to return to the lineup Saturday vs. the Timberwolves, according to Shams Charania.

Joel Embiid (knee) set to return to lineup Saturday vs. Minnesota

Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid will have an MRI after injuring his left knee in Friday night's 127-101 win over the Washington Wizards, coach Doc Rivers said after the game.
Embiid hyperextended the knee after coming down off a dunk in the third quarter,
Source: <a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31054421/sources-philadelphia-76ers-center-joel-embiid-mri-hyperextending-knee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN </a>
ANALYSIS: Embiid has been having an MVP-type season, averaging a career-high 30.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 33 minutes per game. Coach Doc Rivers said Embiid was in "in pretty good spirits" after the game and he is set to undergo the MRI when the team flies back to Philadelphia.

76ers' Joel Embiid will undergo an MRI on his left knee after going down with an apparent injury in Friday's win over the Washington Wizards.

Joel Embiid to undergo MRI after going down with knee injury

There&rsquo;s a new MVP favorite, and he is a worthy one&hellip; especially after scoring 40 points last night in the Philadelphia 76ers&rsquo; victory over the Utah Jazz.
So congratulations to Joel Embiid, who has leapfrogged LeBron James in the MVP futures market at FanDuel, one of the largest legalized sportsbooks in the U.S. gambling industry. What&rsquo;s more, PointsBet, which is affiliated with NBC Sports, has made Embiid an even bigger favorite.
The sportsbook industry is fractured on this one. Bet MGM and DraftKingsSportsbook both have Embiid and LeBron at +250, also known as 5/2. That makes them co-favorites and for those unfamiliar with the lingo, 5/2 basically is the same as 2 &frac12;-to-1, meaning a $100 wager would be worth $250 in winnings.
This much of a disparity is extraordinarily unusual in the sports gambling industry, which tends to be in lockstep on most gambling lines, especially the point spreads and over/unders on nightly matchups. But William Hill is the only major book that still lists LeBron ahead of Embiid, +175 to +225.
James sat out last night&rsquo;s loss to the lowly Sacramento Kings, taking a rest night -- something he had earlier said he was loath to do. The loss dropped the L.A. Lakers into a tie for third-place in the Western Conference behind Utah and the L.A. Clippers, while the Sixers stayed a half-game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets, whose James Harden is priced anywhere from 18-1 to 25-1.
Last night, Embiid reached at least 40 points and 15 rebounds for the league-leading fifth time, and the fact that he did it against Rudy Gobert (the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year) was especially impressive.
LeBron has three 19-point games among his last six outings, and the Lakers have lost six of eight.
James took over as the MVP favorite back in January, surpassing Luka Doncic as the Dallas Mavericks got off to a poor start, and money came pouring in on him. Most of the major books are significantly exposed on him, but he has not helped his chances, while Embiid has done quite the opposite. Question: Ever watch NBA TV or ESPN and not hear them preface all Embiid comments with &ldquo;MVP candidate&rdquo;? Maybe a few weeks ago, but certainly not this morning. The NBA TV crew was actually chanting it.
Not that this is a two-horse race, because Nikola Jokic is sitting at +350 (William Hill) to +450 (DraftKings), with nobody else less than 12-1 with the exception of Doncic at 7-1 at PointsBet.&nbsp;
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With more than half of the season remaining, things could change further in this category. The Phoenix Suns are peaking, and Devin Booker is somehow at 150-1. If Phoenix somehow manages to win the West, and both Brooklyn and Philadelphia are overtaken by the Milwaukee Bucks, Booker is certainly not going to be sitting at 150-1. If Utah goes back on an extended run of success like they did before their current two-game losing streak, Donovan Mitchell is going to be a lot lower than 100-1, which is where he stands on this particular Thursday as we get ready for the All-Star break.
But for now, what we have today is a major, major shift of odds for the league&rsquo;s signature individual award. And there are a lot of people in the Philadelphia area who are cherishing the day they made wagers on his back during the preseason.
From PointsBet spokesman Patrick Eichner:
MVP (Bet Count):
<ol>
<li>LeBron James&nbsp;- 1st in bet count (20%)</li>
<li>Joel Embiid -&nbsp;2nd in bet count (9%)</li>
</ol>
MVP (Handle):
<ol>
<li>LeBron James - 1st in handle (34%)</li>
<li>Joel Embiid - 2nd in handle (7%)&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&ldquo;In our eyes, LeBron only wins MVP if the Lakers finish as one of the top-two seeds in the West,&rdquo; Eichner said.&nbsp;&ldquo;With AD being sidelined for at least another month, plus the Suns and Jazz playing as well as they are, we anticipate a top-two seed will be difficult for the Lakers to secure.&nbsp; Looking at Joel Embiid and the Sixers, however, it is a totally different story &ndash; the East is much more wide open, and Philly has a very legitimate chance to finish as the No. 1 seed, in large part thanks to Embiid&rsquo;s play. &nbsp;
&ldquo;Anticipating the 76ers will finish higher in their conference standings than either the Lakers (LeBron) or Nuggets (Jokic) has elevated Embiid to the overall clear favorite &ndash; we are shorter on Embiid (+160) and longer on LeBron (+275) than most of the market, but we feel comfortable taking that lean.&rdquo;
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From John Sheeran, Director of Risk and Trading for FanDuel Sportsbook:
&ldquo;LeBron&rsquo;s performance levels have dropped off, especially since Anthony Davis got injured, and Embiid continues to increase his lead in key statistical performance metrics,&rdquo; Sheeran said. &ldquo;James bettors need AD back and quickly.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Right now, Embiid is second&nbsp;in the league in points per game (30.2), while LeBron is 12th&nbsp;(25.8), Embiid&rsquo;s field goal percentage is better at 52.1% vs. 50.9% for LeBron, and the 76ers star is more impactful right now on the defensive side of the ball with an average of 11.6 rebounds per game, good for fourth&nbsp;in the league while LeBron averages 8.0 per game.&rdquo;
At FanDuel, the top NBA player by bet count in the MVP outright winner market is Embiid with nearly 20% of the bets. The top-five players by handle in the NBA MVP market are James, Embiid, Doncic, Kevin Durant and Jokic.
FanDuel&rsquo;s largest bet on Embiid was $3,600 at +550 on Feb. 6. In terms of how Embiid&rsquo;s MVP odds have moved, they were 36-1 on opening night, 26-1 in December and January, and 11-2 in February.
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And this from Bet MGM&rsquo;s John Ewing: &ldquo;All the tickets on MVP last night/today have been on Embiid. The tickets placed today account for 10% of all of Embiid&rsquo;s overall tickets.&rdquo;
Yet Bet MGM has James and Embiid as co-favorites.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve seen steady action on Embiid all season and after a game like last night against the league&rsquo;s best team, while being guarded primarily by Rudy Gobert, we felt it was time to make him a co-favorite with LeBron to win MVP,&rdquo; said Seamus Magee, head sports trader at BetMGM.
&ldquo;The Lakers have struggled without Anthony Davis. Had LA continued to win, then LeBron would be the clear favorite. But at this point in the season, it is a two-man race for the award.&rdquo;

Joel Embiid is now the favorite to win this year's Most Valuable Player award, according to most sportsbooks.

Joel