He's Trying to Win a F****** Title

Anyone who has paid minimal attention to the 76ers in the last few seasons knows the importance of Joel Embiid‘s presence to the team’s success. His overall +/- rating in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season was a +89 (for reference: Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard‘s was a whopping +34). This season, Sixers fans have seen a side of Jo we haven’t really seen before. We’ve seen him play slow and dejected, like he doesn’t want to be on the floor. He even said himself that he’d lost that spark of joy that comes with playing the game.

If you agreed with Shaq and Charles‘ comments about Jo’s lack of energy and drive this season, I highly recommend reading “The Only Way is Through”, Jo’s recent article in the Player’s Tribune. In his article, Joel opens up about the loss of his younger brother Arthur and his mental struggles after the Conference Semis into this season. He makes himself vulnerable, then takes a sharp turn. He acknowledges the merits of NBA legends O’Neal and Barkley, but respectfully, sirs, this isn’t the age of the big man anymore. No team playing in 2020 can hope to be successful by throwing it into the paint and having two 7-footers go after each other. The name of basketball is dynamism and versatility–being the tallest guy on the court isn’t good enough.

“You know, we all came into this year talking about how bad we want a title. We’re pretty good at talking, myself included,” he writes. It’s not a secret that the Sixers haven’t dominated the way we predicted in the preseason. However, Sixers fans know what our team can do when the players and coaches come together with a fighter’s mentality. We’re a dangerous basketball team. Too often this season, however, we have only seen one or two players bring it on any given night. Jo’s article gives me hope. He’s injured, but not for long. Even then, he’s still in the locker room. When he gets back, I believe we’ll see the Bullies turn a corner. I hope we see them play sharper, meaner, and with the confidence that we deserve.

I’m happy to see Jo stepping up his leadership in this way. Butler did it for us last season, but he’s not our guy. Joel is, and he’s done talking now.

Joel’s a dog, and no one knows better than the city of Philadelphia what a hungry dog can do.