After losing to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers‘ MVP, is still searching for his first Conference Finals appearance. However, he seems to have found some comfort in a quote from fellow MVP and former champion Giannis Antetokounmpo. Embiid shared his thoughts on the season-ending loss and the positive steps he took this year.
— James Burnes (@JamesBurnes8) May 14, 2023
Embiid acknowledged the difficult loss but found solace in Giannis’ words that “this is not a failure and there are steps to success.” Despite not reaching the Conference Finals, Embiid believes that this season was a good step towards achieving that goal. His cheeky smile while quoting Giannis suggests that he isn’t mocking the former champion, but rather embracing his message.
However, Embiid’s playoff record is not as impressive as some of the other top stars in the league. He is the only MVP in NBA history to have never made a Conference Finals appearance, a fact that he is undoubtedly aware of. But he remains optimistic and believes that the team is moving in the right direction.
The loss to the Celtics was certainly tough, but Embiid’s positive outlook on the season could be a sign of good things to come for the Sixers. With Embiid and his teammates continuing to improve, they may be able to finally make it to the Conference Finals next season. For now, Embiid is taking comfort in the words of a fellow MVP, and he’s ready to keep working toward his ultimate goal.
Joel Embiid and The Sixers’ Championship Aspirations Dashed by Game 7 Loss to Celtics
The Philadelphia 76ers’ hopes of winning an NBA title were crushed once again on Sunday afternoon when they suffered a 112-88 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Despite being touted as a special team capable of winning a championship, the Sixers fell short in their second-round matchup for the third consecutive season and the fifth time in six seasons.
The Sixers’ star duo of Joel Embiid and James Harden struggled in the crucial game, with Harden looking past his prime and Embiid looking fatigued from his injury. The Celtics took advantage of the situation, with Jayson Tatum scoring 51 points to lead his team to victory and send the Sixers home empty-handed once again.
While the loss was a devastating blow to the Sixers and their fans, head coach Doc Rivers remained optimistic, saying that the team had taken another mental step forward this season despite the setback. However, the team will need to regroup and reassess their goals if they hope to finally break their streak of second-round exits and bring a championship to Philadelphia.
