Congratulations to Joel Embiid for being the MVP in back to back years

[FireMorey]

In back to back seasons, the Sixers have had the best player in the NBA and the MVP of the league.

I'm saying he is the MVP, not he won the MVP, there is a difference. One is objective truth. The other is a subjective decision by voters.

I think we all know how the vote is going to go since the NBA world has an agenda against the Sixers, but their vote does not constitute reality, nor change what we all know Embiid is. The MVP.

So I wanted to start a thread honoring Philly's best pro athlete and one of the best athletes who has ever played in the city. Celebrating the great Joel Embiid and how far he's come and everything he's had to overcome to become the game's best player. Including multiple injuries, the loss of a brother, and a GM creating burner accounts to trash him.

What are your favorite Embiid games, plays, moments on and off the court. Please share.

My favorite Embiid game was probably the game @ the Lakers a few years ago. Total domination. He made it look so easy all night, could've easily gone for 50+.

Favorite moment is hard to choose from, but I'm going to go with the dunk over that dbag Aaron Baynes with the mask on.

Side moment: TJ McConnell hitting the game winner vs the Knicks, and Embiid running over and grabbing him by the neck in celebration, it looked like Andre the Giant holding a carrot, that's how small TJ's neck looked in Embiid's hands.

And who could forget Embiid ripping Bryan Colangelo on Twitter after the burner story leaked. Classic Embiid.

[Jailblazers7]

It is kind of incredible how much more offense is valued than defense in the NBA. It’s not necessarily wrong but just interesting. I’ve seen people hyping a guy like Mikal Bridges as a contender for DPOY but not even mentioned for an All NBA team. He’s not even that bad on offense (like Mattise).

I think the biggest shenanigans that hurt Embiid with voters is the advanced defensive metrics really hide how much better Embiid is versus Jokic on that end.

One of my favorite moments for him was actually when he did the Ben Simmons damage control before game 1 this year. It showed a ton of maturity and leadership to go in front of a packed house like that.

[kuclas]

It's too bad Embiid missed 9 games due to covid which is out of his control for once. Sixers went 2-7. No doubt in my mind at worst sixers would have gone at least 5-4 or at best 7-2.

Those 3-5 extra games won means number 1 seed and a different narrative for MVP.

Look, I think Jokic is amazing. This isn't a knock on Jokic. It's just that voters will find things to vote against Embiid.

Embiid got robbed big time 2018-2019 NBA first team. Voters used the excuse embiid played in 64 games.

Now Embiid basically plays in the same amount of games 68 and voters have no problem with Embiid's games played but say Jokic is better??

Yet Embiid on court performance in 2018-2019 was far superior to Jokic offense AND Defense.

[the_process]

It is kind of incredible how much more offense is valued than defense in the NBA. It’s not necessarily wrong but just interesting. I’ve seen people hyping a guy like Mikal Bridges as a contender for DPOY but not even mentioned for an All NBA team. He’s not even that bad on offense (like Mattise).

I think the biggest shenanigans that hurt Embiid with voters is the advanced defensive metrics really hide how much better Embiid is versus Jokic on that end.

One of my favorite moments for him was actually when he did the Ben Simmons damage control before game 1 this year. It showed a ton of maturity and leadership to go in front of a packed house like that.

I mostly like the idea of advanced stats, but they have to be the correct stats with the correct formulas, which of course is really difficult to conjure up, and in no case do they render the eye test irrelevant.

But these current "advanced" metrics show Jokic as pretty much the greatest defender of all time. And while anyone who has watched a game knows that is objectively false; the stat dorks, always on the hunt to turn sports into a math equation so they can compete, will likely have their way again.

[stormi]

Joel Embiid saving the season, no Harden, no Ben.



MVP.

[M2J]

I will agree that Joel has been the best player in the NBA these past 2 regular seasons. I never thought that would be the case for him going into last year. Doc had the right formula for him immediately (I'm sure unpopular to say on this board).

Unfortunate that the guy who was the definite MVP all year, lost it for another player that IMO was not more impressive towards the end.... In terms of big games. But, I believe Joel lost it for 2 reasons.... The 76ers were inconsistent down the stretch... Essentially due to Harden being inconsistent and the lack of a quality backup center on the roster. Compared to the narrative of just adding Harden to a top seed contending team .

2nd..... The Nets smashing, the 2 Heat games, Giannis besting him, and the nuggets win. The statement games were an issue down the stretch.

[Bum Adebayo]

This season maybe, he had a chance because he has played more than enough games unlike last season. But he underperformed and choked when it mattered, against Nuggets and Bucks.

[mjkvol]

This season maybe, he had a chance because he has played more than enough games unlike last season. But he underperformed and choked when it mattered, against Nuggets and Bucks.

Underperformed? Yes.

"Choked"? Please stop.

[FireMorey]

Embiid comfortably outplayed Jokic in the Nuggets game.

[Jailblazers7]

Embiid comfortably outplayed Jokic in the Nuggets game.

Yeah, it’s funny that the Jokic has no help narrative is driving him to MVP but Embiid beat him head to head but the Nuggets bench won them the game lol.

I do think that M2J is right about statement games down the stretch. If he doesn’t get blocked by Giannis and/or they don’t get curb stomped by the Nets, then I think we might be having a different conversation.

[stormi]

Embiid dominated him on both ends.

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Read on Twitter

[Negrodamus]

The only person who has won the MVP after losing in the first round of the playoff in the last 15 years is Russell Westbrook after averaging a triple double. I fully expect Denver to lose to GSW and we *should* beat Tor ass.

[stormi]

The only person who has won the MVP after losing in the first round of the playoff in the last 15 years is Russell Westbrook after averaging a triple double. I fully expect Denver to lose to GSW and we *should* beat Tor ass.

B-but VORPulus told me that Jokic was better than Lebron or MJ have ever been! Surely nothing is faulty about these statistics, I expect a lengthy playoff run! No teammate excuses.

[Stanford]

The only person who has won the MVP after losing in the first round of the playoff in the last 15 years is Russell Westbrook after averaging a triple double. I fully expect Denver to lose to GSW and we *should* beat Tor ass.

B-but VORPulus told me that Jokic was better than Lebron or MJ have ever been! Surely nothing is faulty about these statistics, I expect a lengthy playoff run! No teammate excuses.

Actually, the worse your team performs, the more valuable you are

[FireMorey]

Had Embiid not gotten COVID the Sixers likely would’ve finished first in the East in back to back years. They collapsed once he went out with COVID then he comes back and they rise toward the top of the East yet again.

[RoyceDa59]

Best player in the NBA? That was LeBron, then KD and now it’s Giannis. Embiid has never been the best player in the NBA.

[Stanford]

Best player in the NBA? That was LeBron, then KD and now it’s Giannis. Embiid has never been the best player in the NBA.

[Negrodamus]

Best player in the NBA? That was LeBron, then KD and now it’s Giannis. Embiid has never been the best player in the NBA.

Weird, it’s actually Dejounte Murray who is the best player in the NBA.

[FireMorey]

Giannis shoots 17% outside of 5 feet.

[stormi]

Best player in the NBA? That was LeBron, then KD and now it’s Giannis. Embiid has never been the best player in the NBA.

are we bringing avi posting to realgm lollllllll