FIRST TAKE | “Joel Embiid’s return should have NBA teams nervous” – Stephen A. on 76ers beat Thunder

FIRST TAKE | “Joel Embiid’s return should have NBA teams nervous” – Stephen A. on 76ers beat Thunder

Leading the 76ers to win versus the Thunder it was embiid’s first game in nine weeks following knee surgery Stephen A can the 76ers go on a run in the East with embiid now healthy no not to me I don’t believe yet um I want to applaud Nick nurse you know and by the

Way Alan ion you know just text me yeah bro I am looking pretty fly he just text me to tell me I was looking pretty fly I just wanted to let the world know that my boy AI about the rest my boy AI is watching First Take right now he said

His boy stepen they looking pretty damn fly thank you my brother thank you my brother here’s the deal okay I look at the Philadelphia 76ers I want to give props to Nick nurse I think that he’s done an outstanding job considering the circumstances as the head coach for the

Philadelphia 76ers uh they’ve quickened their Pace we’ve seen the elevation of Tyrese Maxi we understand that if Joel embiid was there the the Philadelphia 76ers would be battling for a top three seed in the Eastern Conference without him they’re like 14 and 27 something along those lines we get it we

Understand it I get it my issue is is that he’s not 100% he’s not going to be 100% And when I look at the Boston Celtics that’s a given I don’t care about Milwaukee struggles I think that they would have their way with the Philadelphia 76ers because embiid is not

Healthy um even though he was out there last night um I think the New York Knicks if Julius Randall and OG anobi come back listen forget Julius Rand for second if ogan anomi and Mitchell Robinson came back I still think that’s enough to beat this 76ers Squad that’s

Where I’m at with it but it’s really primarily because Chan I don’t have a lot of faith in the health of Joel and be he’s such a superstar talent I just don’t think that he has the legs to go through a lengthy postseason run I don’t

See it I see them going home once again in the second round live from the seport we’re brought to you by Greg new and it begins speaking of the big man being back oh the return of the night Joel MB playing for the first time since January 30th Sixers and thunder first quarter

What are you seeing from embiid here alen H I’m seeing embiid moving well defensively and being an impact player right away in the minutes that he played for this team Tobias Harris knocks down the three on the other end and beid would played 29 minutes this is just

Four minutes in you can see obviously the fatigue is a factor but he he’s always tired greeny he’s always looks tired but then he gets the ball and he does a step back jumper and he looks like himself again that Donjoy brace though you see it right there protecting

That left knee and miniscus surgery to get him back on the court he had 12 at the half now here we go the Sixers trying to come back they were down as many as 10 that’s Kelly UB who led the way with 25 points gets the Sixers within two and then here’s embiid

Working in the mid-range and the right back Innings yeah he just looks like himself offensively that’s for sure and then obviously you also need him inside the paint a just getting it done here going up strong Oklahoma City doesn’t have the size to contend with him CH

Hren another rough night see him land all right take a breath right you got to get to the free throw line he was 12 for 12 by the way from the line half his points at the line he made those two there which were critical and then the

Defense he would make more foul shots there and beat finishes with 24 points six rebounds seven assists and the Sixers get a big win they’ve got six games remaining let’s see what he can do Joel talk to me it took a a toll mentally uh you know I

Just want to come back I just want a come back you know I just I think we got a chance uh even you know the level that I’m at and I’m only going to get better but you know this one was probably the hardest by far you know especially

Mentally right they have six games remaining in the regular season CH gumuk up with us as well this morning I’m not I’m just cutting directly to the chase this time T I’m not dancing around the question with a healthy Joel embiid are the Sixers the biggest threat to the

Ridiculously dominant Celtics in the Eastern Conference woo don’t dance around it I’m going to give you a straight answer no because that is a big if Joel embiid is able to return back to form but I will say this embiid coming back with a handful of games left is forcing sleep

Sleepless nights all across the East it doesn’t matter if you’re the Celtics or the bucks or the the Knicks the biggest issue last night versus OKC was his stamina my guy was tired but his impact remains intact without his legs he still gives you 246 and seven assists he still

Gives you defense at The Rim he still gives you free throws in the clutch what will he look like after their remaining six games the answer is a problem but right now the Sixers still have a lot to piece together in order to contend with the League’s best record in the Celtics

Yeah I mean most of the East is not very good they’re all the same right it’s the Celtics are Head and Shoulders Above So threat to the Celtics no however if the Sixers get a good first round matchup for them that’s more games that you can

Buy for him the more games that they play the more condition he’ll get into the better things will go if they can stay out of the Celtics bracket and then they can find their way to the Conference Finals some way somehow with with the matchups because Tyrese Maxi who didn’t play last night

Is much better when he’s got him beat on the court they’ve added pieces that embiid was gone they added these pieces that will make them better so the more they play the better it’ll be for him to get into shape and then maybe by the Conference Finals they could be a threat

Well the path you’re describing is sitting right there for them they figure to be in the 78 game in the playin if they win that game that’s a one game scenario to be the seven seed which means you get Milwaukee in the first round and you’re on the other half of

The draw from Boston yes or Cleveland and it’s set up for them if you look at the remaining schedule that they have they have the easiest remaining strength ofle schedle strength compared to any other team in the East they are not playing tough teams the next game that’s

The tough one they play the heat on Thursday but look at it even though it’s on the road at Grizzlies you should win that game Spurs have played better it is on the road but still should win that game pistons not even trying magic that’s a tough one but they might be

Locked into their spot and then Brooklyn again not even trying these are games that are winnable that could get them right where they need to be by the way someone just drew this to my attention this morning and it is worth saying on the air cuz it’s so remarkable the

Celtics have a 12g game lead between first and second place in the Eastern Conference that is larger than the margin from first place to 10th place in the Western Conference that’s how ridiculously dominant the Celtics have been so Jan at the end of the day is everyone just playing for second place

In the East anyway oh absolutely because I’ve always said that the Celtics greatest competition is the Celtics the standard is for them to win a championship they have improved based off of the two years ago being in the finals and even last year Squad and so everyone is playing for second place

But the thing is if there’s one team that really lacks a little bit of confidence that plays a little bit too cool for school it is the Celtics but their expectation is to make sure that League best record delivers them to the finals all right everybody stay right

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FIRST TAKE | “Joel Embiid’s return should have NBA teams nervous” – Stephen A. on 76ers beat Thunder