Joel Embiid’s greatest playoff video games, Half I: Game 3 vs. Raptors in 2019

With the NBA calendar in its regular quiet interval, now felt like a great time to speak about a few of Joel Embiid’s greatest playoff performances with the Sixers coming into yet one more season during which a deep playoff run would be the expectation. We’ve made an inventory of Embiid’s 5 greatest playoff video games and can roll them out so that you can debate and talk about if stated sport belongs on our checklist and what your recollections are from that individual sport. Without additional ado, let’s dive in with Game 3 in opposition to the Toronto Raptors within the 2019 second spherical.

Final Score: Sixers 116, Raptors 95

Series rating after outcome: Philadelphia leads 2-1

Embiid’s stat line: 33 factors, 10 rebounds, 9-of-18 FGs, 3-of-4 from three, 5 blocks, 3 assists, +31 ranking

Perhaps it’s a bit odd that up till this level, 2019, Embiid’s second yr within the playoffs, was arguably his greatest likelihood at profitable a championship. There’s an equally robust argument to be made for 2023, a yr during which the Sixers misplaced to the then-defending Eastern Conference Champion Celtics in seven video games within the second spherical. But the Sixers took the eventual champions to a seventh sport in 2019 and it was thanks largely to performances just like the one Embiid had in Game 3.

After Embiid had missed the primary two seasons of his profession solely, and performed sparingly within the 2016-17 season, the Sixers had been coming off of a 2018 postseason during which they received a spherical and performed the rival Celtics within the second spherical. They weren’t able to contend for a championship simply but in 2018, however there was a way that they had been getting nearer in 2019.

The staff had acquired Jimmy Butler in the course of the 2018-19 common season and appeared poised for a deeper playoff run than the one they went on in 2018. The Sixers eradicated Brooklyn in 5 fast video games within the first spherical and the widely-held perception coming into the Raptors sequence was that it was going to be a battle. Philly was returning residence after grinding out a 94-89 Game 2 win in Toronto to go away Canada with a break up of the primary two video games within the sequence. Therefore, with the franchise seemingly constructing momentum and the mandatory break up having been secured on the highway, the vibes surrounding the Sixers had been excessive.

Philly would lead by three after one and by 11 at halftime. Embiid was already effectively on his method to a particular night time simply 24 minutes into the sport as he had 18 factors, seven rebounds and made each of his makes an attempt from past the three-point line. He continued to face out on each ends of the ground and capped the night time with the signature play under.

Say what you need about Embiid’s lack of availability over time, however there’s little doubt the man was and nonetheless is an entertainer and his persona could make anybody like him. This was actually a second during which each Embiid and the Sixers had been extremely popular in Philadelphia and plenty of followers had been feeling optimistic in regards to the route of the franchise thanks largely to how dominant Embiid regarded offensively and defensively.