The Grip - FRI 3.30

The Embiid tragedy continues

March 30, 2018

3.30.18

Written while listening to Kaytranada’s 99.9% [

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IMPORTANT SCORES FROM LAST NIGHT

Spurs 103,

 Thunder 99

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LaMarcus Aldridge 

25 PTS | 11 RBD

Bucks 116,

 Warriors 107

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Giannis Antetokounmpo

33 PTS | 4 RBD | 5 AST

Pistons 103, Wizards 92Heat 103, Bulls 92Pacers 106, Kings 103

 Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy   

In the short amount of time that you have spent reading today’s edition of The Grip, you have seen the words Embiid, Tragedy, and Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, and you’ve seen a picture of what could very easily be a perished Joel Embiid.

So we will clarify: Embiid is very much not perished. But he is out the next two to four weeks, as first reported by Zach Lowe.

He fractured his left orbital on a play during Wednesday’s win over the Knicks. The playoffs begin on April 14, which means the surging 76ers could be without their best player, and one of the best players in the league, for the first round.

And in a season of good health after three comically injured years -- all to do with his legs -- it seems like the cruelest bit of sardonicism that Philadelphia may be without Embiid for a plucky playoff push because of his……...face.

There’s only one person to blame. HINKIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Embiid is a chubby Hakeem -- a nimble passer with endless post moves and a feathery mid-range game. His impact is astronomical. As ESPN’s Kevin Pelton pointed out, the 76ers out-score opponents by 11.6 points per 100 possessions with Embiid on the court, good for fourth best in the league and second among starters.

(The average amount of possessions in the NBA this season per game is 97.3)

So, when he’s playing, his team is better than the Houston Rockets, who lead the league as a team with a 9.3 net-rating. It’s not an exaggeration to say that with Embiid playing 40 minutes a game in the playoffs, the 76ers could make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. As a Celtics fan, that’s terrifying. But we must consider what’s best for the league, or something.

And, honestly, a man this charismatic has no business not playing in the playoffs.

Whose been going off?

Karl-Anthony Towns, that’s who. The center put up 56 points against the Hawks on Wednesday, making 19 of 32 from the field and 6 of 8 from deep.

Brad Stevens, that’s who. This boy was wildin’ on Wednesday. He commandeered another no-business-win for the undermanned Celtics against the Jazz, which ended with a game-winning three by Jaylen Brown. 

  • Kevin Durant got ejected last night for the fifth time this season in his first game since March 14. It was questionable.

  • The Damian Lillard MVP case: Lillard missed Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies to witness the birth of his son. The Trail Blazers lost to the Grizzlies.

  • Darius Bazley, a McDonald’s All-American, decommitted from Syracuse to sign a G-League contract. To be blunt, it’s likely he’d make more at Syracuse than in the G-League.

  • Dwyane Wade to Bam Adebayo for the oop is no joke.

  • Isaiah Thomas is done for the year. What a sad season for a top-five MVP vote-getter last season.

  • Jason Terry is 40 and still getting minutes on an NBA team. That’s great for him, but seems like a pretty bad idea for the Bucks.

  • Someone other than the Warriors clinched the first seed in the west for the first time since 2014.

  • Grant Hill and Jason Kidd (who were co-ROYs in 1995), plus Steve Nash and MO CHEEKS made the cut for the Hall of Fame. Mo retired in 1993, so not really sure how that works, but always trust the Sage. (What are you doing in San Antonio, Bob?)  

  • Russell Westbrook Russell Westbrook’d last night against the Spurs. It was the bad kind.

  • Ray Allen did one of those Barstool pizza reviews, and he got really intense with the Barstool dude. He’s not over anything, is he.

  • LeBron James said he should be MVP: “The body of work, how I’m doing it, what’s been happening with our team all year long, how we’ve got so many injuries and things of that nature, guys in and out, to be able to still keep this thing afloat, I definitely would vote me.”

  • In the formidable words of The Dude, “You’re not wrong Walter, you’re just an asshole.”

  

  • Why Shaq never won more than one MVP [Tap Here]

  • A profile on Red Auerbach from 1986 that’s literally only available in one place [Tap Here]

  • On NBA Draft declaree Marvin Bagley III [Tap Here] Hint: He’s very good.

  • Inside the Kings’ decision to stand up for Stephon Clark:The fans came Tuesday night because they liked the Kings, or they wanted to see the new hi-tech arena, or perhaps to witness Dirk Nowitzki hit one more three before hobbling into the sunset. It certainly wasn’t for the game: Sacramento versus Dallas, two tanking teams in a meaningless late-season matchup.The protesters? They came out of frustration and anger. To read more, Tap Here.

  • A very good Jason Kidd profile [Tap Here]

  • Listen: Zach Lowe and Howard Beck talk about good basketball stuff [Tap Here]

A LOOK AHEAD

Here are the must-see games of the weekend.

Friday 3/30

New Orlean Pelicans (43-32)vsCleveland Cavaliers (45-30)8:00 PM EST - ESPN

Saturday 3/31

Toronto Raptors (55-20)vsBoston Celtics (52-23)7:30 PM EST - NBATV