Wednesday night in South Philadelphia, Joel Embiid proved the 76ers aren’t just a great basketball team, but a tough one as well.
Knockout.
The Sixers best player wasn’t only better than Minnesota’s best player, Karl-Anthony Towns, but a simple tangle-up around the midway point of the third quarter resulted in both giants shoving, grabbing and ultimately tumbling with one another as if it were a no-holds bar heavyweight fight at a sold out Wells Fargo Center.
Sixers beat the Timberwolves 117-95 for their first 4-0 start since Allen Iverson anchored a legendary 10-0 start the season he willed Philadelphia to The NBA Finals.
That team had fight, grit and toughness that embodied Philadelphia.
While Embiid’s rumble with Towns, as well as his celebratory shadow boxing and bell ringing after the fact, will almost certainly get him suspended right before a tough west coast road trip, his actions showed something much more in the grand scheme of things regarding this season—opposing teams enter Wells Fargo Center at their own risk.
It’s a loud, sold out, recently renovated, hungry venue with ravenous fans and an outstanding basketball team.
Sure, Embiid’s actions might cost the Sixers a game or two, which could factor into the all important final Eastern Conference standings. But, through four games of stifling defense and evolving offense, this deep Sixers team appears poised for a long run into May, and potentially June.
They can handle the big guy getting some nights off because of extra curricular activity. Not to mention, in terms of Wednesday’s boxing match, I mean basketball game, the Sixers without Embiid are still way better than the Timberwolves minus Towns.
There’s nothing wrong with showing muscles every now and then.
Oh, and by the way, don’t let the stats cloud the truth. Embiid muscled his way by Towns numerous times Wednesday night. Embiid finished with 19 points in 20 minutes while Towns scored 13 in 22. Embiid was better, and it wasn’t close.
Ding Ding.
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