Joel Embiid Is Making History
It’s safe to say we all know Joel Embiid has been dominant this postseason, but do we realize just how good he’s actually been?
In the Sixers’ blowout 116-95 win over the Toronto Raptors, Embiid became the fastest player to ever record a 30-10-5 playoff game, per Elias Sports Bureau. Among the all-time greats who have recorded 30-10-5 playoff games, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinsons, Embiid is the first to do it in under 30 minutes.
But that’s just one game, Embiid has spent the past series and a half putting on historic playoff performances. Through seven games this postseason, he is averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks per game. Among players with 20/10/3/2 postseasons, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Lanier, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinsons, Embiid is, again, the only one who could do it in under 30 minutes a game. He is also averaging the third most free-throw attempts per game among this historic group.
Embiid is also the first person in over the last decade to record multiple 30+ point and 10+ rebound performances in the same postseason.
Despite being on a minutes restriction and needing to miss a game due to knee tendinitis against the Brooklyn Nets and playing through the shits against the Raptors, Embiid has been a force. Although the minutes haven’t come easy for him, he’s making the most of every second he plays. Embiid’s defensive rebound percentage so far this postseason is 32%, per Basketball Reference, meaning he’s gabbing nearly a third of every defensive rebound available.
He is also leading the NBA in playoff Player Impact Estimate, which measures a player’s statistical contribution and creates a measure of impact. Basically, he’s making a greater positive impact than any other player in the league this postseason.
Joel’s impeccable showmanship is the perfect cherry on top of this historic postseason sundae. Whether it’s been calling Jared Dudley a nobody, talking about his bowel movements, or posing for the crowd after his windmill dunk against the Raptors, Embiid is making this a postseason for Sixers fans to remember.
I added Titanic Music to Joel Embiid’s windmill dunk. Haven’t I beat this dead horse enough?? pic.twitter.com/ON4uavrco4
— Vote The Process (@VoteTheProcess) May 3, 2019
The last time the Sixers had a player preform this dominantly in the playoffs, they found their way to the NBA Finals. History may be repeating itself.
