Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid’s emotional MVP speech ahead of Game 3 of their series against the Boston Celtics sparked a brutal backlash from NBA fans. Despite winning the 2023 KIA MVP award, fans took to social media to express their disappointment and disbelief, with many believing that Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo deserved the award more than Embiid.
Jokic averages more assist, more rebounds, better fg percentage and better 3 point percentage! Also, Joel has James Harden which is one of the top 10 Players in the NBA! pic.twitter.com/4xj3EapmtL
— Scott Cook (@scottcookee) May 5, 2023
Joel Embiid and his son during his MVP speech 🥹 pic.twitter.com/AFMAAYBebn
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 5, 2023
Some fans labeled Embiid’s MVP win as a “sympathy” award, suggesting that his personal story played a larger role in his win than his actual performance on the court. Others criticized the voting system, accusing voters of being biased toward Embiid due to his popularity and media coverage.
One fan even suggested that Embiid’s win was racially motivated, claiming that “Black America can now take a rest” and accusing those who voted for him of being guilty of “racism.” This prompted outrage from many other fans who labeled the comment as offensive and uncalled for.
Despite the backlash, Joel’s emotional speech, which included a moment with his son rushing to his arms, demonstrated the significance of the award to him. The Sixers confirmed that Embiid will be playing in Game 3 despite not being fully fit in the previous game due to a knee injury.
Embiid’s win was not without merit, as he led the Sixers to the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 60-22. He also displayed impressive stats, averaging 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. However, fans felt that Jokic, who won the award in the previous season, deserved it more due to his consistent performance throughout the season and his contributions in leading the Denver Nuggets to the third seed in the Western Conference.
In conclusion, while Embiid’s emotional MVP speech may have resonated with some fans, it also sparked a brutal backlash from others who felt that his win was undeserved. The debate surrounding the award highlights the subjective nature of MVP voting and the differing opinions of fans when it comes to selecting the most valuable player in the league.
Philadelphia 76ers Struggle to Overcome Celtics’ Defense in Game 3 Despite Joel Embiid’s Encouragement of James Harden’s Shooting
The Philadelphia 76ers suffered their second consecutive loss against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. James Harden, who struggled with shooting in the previous game, had another rough night. Despite this, Joel Embiid, the 76ers’ star player, encouraged Harden to stay aggressive and keep shooting.
However, Harden’s performance in Game 3 was largely negative for the team. He went 5-for-28 across two games, the worst two-game output in his entire career, including the regular season and playoffs. The Celtics made a conscious effort to slow him down, and Jaylen Brown was particularly effective in guarding him.
According to 76ers coach Doc Rivers, the team needs to play with more force and take advantage of driving lanes to attack. However, Harden appeared indecisive at times when making forays into the paint, leading to turnovers.
In addition to Harden’s struggles, Tyrese Maxey also struggled, finishing the game 4-for-16 from the field. As a team, the 76ers shot just 36.6% on two-point shots, going 15-for-41. The Celtics also had seven blocked shots, making it difficult for the 76ers to score.
Despite the difficulties, Joel Embiid maintained that the key to victory was simply playing better. The team needs to execute and make shots if they want to stay alive in the series. He also emphasized the importance of players showing up and doing their job and urged his team to come out strong in Game 4 on Sunday.
