Joel Embiid, the star center of the Philadelphia 76ers, didn’t hold back when taking a dig at Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn after the Sixers took a 2-0 series lead with a 96-84 victory.
Embiid accused the Nets of adopting a similar tactic to that of Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse in complaining about the officiating, stating that “they kind of took the Nick Nurse route of begging for free throws and calling out the referees.”
Embiid recalled a conversation he had with Nurse during last year’s playoffs, where the Raptors faced the Sixers in the first round. After a game in which Nurse complained about calls, Embiid had respectfully asked him to stop “b——g about calls.”
Then, Embiid cited the fact, the Raptors had triple-teamed him throughout the game, leading to his frequent trips to the free-throw line. He said, “I mean, if you’re going to triple-team somebody all game, they’re bound to get to the free-throw line… So, I feel like every foul was legit and probably should’ve been more.”
Regarding the Nets’ complaints about Embiid’s traveling violations in Game 1, Vaughn expressed his hope that the officials would call them out in the next game, saying, “Hopefully they’ll be calling travel and three seconds on the big fella next game.” However, Embiid remained unfazed and went on to deliver a dominant performance in Game 2.
Embiid’s comments show that he doesn’t believe in teams resorting to complaining about officiating to gain an advantage. He believes that players should let their game do the talking and not rely on the referees to hand them points. As the Sixers head to Brooklyn for Game 3, Embiid will be looking to lead his team to a series sweep over the Nets.
Joel Embiid Dominates as 76ers Take Commanding Series Lead
Joel Embiid once again showed why he is considered one of the best players in the NBA with a dominant performance in Game 2 of the playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets. Despite concerns about his health heading into the series, Embiid has been unstoppable, averaging 34.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
In Game 2, Embiid controlled the paint, grabbing 19 rebounds and scoring 20 points. He made the most of his free-throw opportunities, sinking 8 of his 8 attempts from the charity stripe. But it was his defense that really made a difference, as he anchored a Sixers defense that held the Nets to just 84 points.
Embiid’s performance has been the driving force behind the Sixers’ commanding 2-0 series lead over the Nets. With two wins in their pocket, the Sixers will look to continue their dominant form as the series shifts to Brooklyn. If Embiid can maintain his level of play, the Sixers will be tough to beat and will have a great chance to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
