Joel Embiid sounded upbeat and determined after the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 106-93 on Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, pushing the first-round series to a decisive Game 7 in Boston. The center said the group’s response around the margins was the difference.
“Just being committed,” Embiid said of the defensive rebounding effort. “We know what they like to do. The first couple of games, instead of going towards them, we’re going towards the rim. We’ve been the first one to hit it.”
Embiid also explained the chemistry he has built with Paul George on baseline doubles and post actions. “It helps when you got the same trainer,” he said. “We see the game whether I communicate to him or Drew sends him film, so he knows what I’m talking about. It’s easy.”
Even with a strong team win, Embiid was candid about his own finishing. “I still feel like we didn’t make them pay because I wasn’t efficient, and then on the kicks we got them shots, but we didn’t make things happen,” he said.
George’s all-around play drew praise from Embiid, who said, “He just does everything.” He added that George’s production on both ends has been essential: “Obviously guarding the two guys on the team, and then offensively just feeling, leading the post up, getting us a bucket, threes, just doing a little bit of everything.”
The Sixers star said the Celtics are still a difficult assignment, but the opportunity ahead is one he welcomes. “I’ve been playing these guys for so long. Tired of losing to them,” Embiid said. “We have a chance to accomplish something special.”
Embiid said the team’s approach for Saturday in Boston should stay simple. “We just got to go in there with the mindset we’ve had for the last two games,” he said. “One play at a time. Tough environment, but we’ve been there. We won two games over there. Just keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
Physically, Embiid said he feels good despite the grind of the series. “I tell my brain that I feel amazing. Hopefully my brain understands it,” he said. “But sometimes it’s hard. Your body tells you something different, but I feel amazing.”
He added that patience has been required while his touch returns. “You look at all the shots I’m getting. Everything is short and in and out,” Embiid said. “At some point I’m bound to have an extremely efficient night. Hopefully next game.”
Embiid said the most important part of the run has been the mood around winning basketball. “It’s fun,” he said. “Fun to play winning basketball. For me, the last couple years have been tough. Going through rehab and therapy, the main thing I’ve learned is trying to find a positive, enjoy the positive, win or lose, enjoy the process.”
Offensively, Embiid said the key remains ball movement and pace. “Just keep moving the ball because we’re getting great shots,” he said. “Starting with me. I’m going to keep putting this on myself. I haven’t been efficient.”
He ended with the bigger picture and the series still in front of him. “This is what I came over here for,” Embiid said. “We got a long way to go, but we keep stacking wins like this, who knows where we’ll be.”
