Best – Joel Embiid, 76ers (C) – 41PTS 15-23FG 10-12FT 21REB 4AST 3BLK 1STL 34MIN
When Joel Embiid is focused on basketball, he is widely regarded as one of the top 30 in the league, but when he plays as well as he did Saturday, he can easily match any player in the top five.
Embiid was drafted as the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, despite knowing that he may have to sit out his first season. It was a gamble the 76ers were willing to take. Embiid’s feet and knee injuries ended up costing him two years before he would grace an NBA court and put the 76ers brass at ease.
Embiid finally got to play in the 2016-17 season. The 76ers played it extremely safe with Embiid, only allowing him to play in 31 games with a minutes restriction; he averaged 25.4MPG. Despite the limitation, Embiid’s stats (20.2PPG .9STL 2.5BLK 2.1AST) earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. The 76ers have handled Embiid with such care throughout his career and have avoided fully unleashing him on the league. Not that it matters. Embiid is a freak of nature and was able to do more in 34 minutes than other players get in a series.
Embiid has never lacked talent, confidence, or cockiness, but his fragile body has kept him from playing a full season. If the 76ers can find a way to allow Embiid to play basketball like everybody knows he can, they might have a real chance of making some noise in this bubble.
Other notables:TJ Warren, Pacers (G/F) – 53PTS 20-29FG 9-12 3PT 4-4FT 2BLK 3AST 4REB; Kyle Lowry, Raptors (PG) – 33PTS 8-16FG 5-9 3PT 12-15FT 1STL 6AST 14REB 35MIN; Chris Paul, Thunder (PG) – 18PTS 7-11FG 1-1 3PT 3-3FT 7REB 7AST 27MIN.
Worst – Anthony Davis, Clippers (PF/C) – 14PTS 2-7FG 1-3 3PT 9-9FT 6REB 3AST 1STL 3BLK
Anthony Davis was just on this list a couple of nights ago as the best player on the court and was the main reason the Lakers were able to take down the Clippers. But Saturday night, Davis’ poor play was the catalyst to the Lakers’ defeat to the defending NBA Champion the Toronto Raptors.
Davis is arguably the most critical player for the Lakers if they want a title this season, not LeBron James. The combination of James and Davis is why the Lakers are favorites, but Davis is the player that should be leaned on if they want to bring the title back to LA.
Other than his defensive stats, Davis let his team down against the Raptors. The defending champions had been playing great basketball before the shutdown and looked like a real threat to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors do have great coaching and a defensive mentality, which pushed them to their first title ever.
Davis never had to play in any significant games while he was with the New Orleans Pelicans, but the Lakers are title favorites, and they can ill afford to have Davis not show up. Davis has been a monster all season for the Lakers, but on Saturday, the Raptors kept him at bay with a 107-92 defeat. The Clippers need to come out strong against the Lakers, and they need Davis to do it.
Extra Trash: Danny Green, Lakers (F) – 0PTS 0-7FG 0-6 3PT 0-2FT 2BLK 1STL 3REB 20MIN; Pascal Siakam, Raptors (F) – 15PTS 5-17FG 2-4 3PT 3-3FT 7REB 3AST 2STL 2BLK 37MIN; Zion Williamson, Pelicans (F) – 7PTS 3-7FG 1-2FT 5REB 3TO 14MIN.