(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics made it look easy on Wednesday night, beating the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, 121-87.
They did so after a tough, surprising loss just days before.
The loss came despite the return of newly announced MVP Joel Embiid, who was back with his Sixers after a week away due to injury.
But Embiid didn’t look like his regular self, and head coach Doc Rivers admitted that after the game.
When asked how Embiid performed, Rivers was honest.
“Rusty,” he said to the press. “I thought he got in a rhythm a couple of times, and I thought we were out of rhythm as well. We knew there were going to have to be some sort of growing pains bringing him back. I’m glad we got it out of the way today.”
Doc Rivers said he thought Joel Embiid looked “rusty” in Game 2 pic.twitter.com/RvC8oIXJjQ
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 4, 2023
Embiid posted 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 blocks in his first game back.
That was a far cry from his season averages of 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds.
It’s clear that Embiid needs a bit more time to feel like himself and perform like the league’s Most Valuable Player.
He wasn’t the only one who struggled on Wednesday.
In fact, no Sixers player scored more than 16 points.
The good news for Philadelphia is that Embiid will look even better over the next few days as his body readjusts to playing ball.
The other piece of good news is that Game 3 will take place back in Philly, which will give the 76ers home-court advantage.
They won the first game of the series on the road to give themselves a huge 1-0 lead.
Now things are even, but will Philly — and a healthy Embiid — be able to reclaim superiority back at home?
The post Doc Rivers Comments On How Joel Embiid Looked In Game 2 Loss appeared first on The Cold Wire.