-
Tim BontempsESPN
After Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid wiped out a path to the free-throw line in a 117-109 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, Celtics guard Marcus Smart voiced his displeasure with the way the game was run.
Embiid made and took more free throws than the Celtics as a team, with 17 to 21 from the line, against 13 of 20 for Boston. The Sixers finished as team 36 of 45.
“I can’t beat that,” said Smart. “Difficult to win that way.”
It’s hard to win, period, when Embiid – who finished with 42 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals – plays like he did against Boston, while continuing to defend his case to be firmly in the running for the league . MVP award during the first month of the season.
Regardless of which defender was thrown at him – whether it was Tristan Thompson, who started, or Daniel Theis, who closed – Embiid had his way: he scored double digits in each of the first three quarters, then scored six points in the final . seven minutes, along with making a key steal, to get the Celtics out.
Part of that trajectory, however, included Embiid making three trips to the foul line – trips Smart thought he made, in part by embellishing the contact.
“It’s difficult,” said Smart. “It’s hard. Especially when we often have our hands up, and he flutters and gets the call, and then on the other side, we have our guys attacking the edge and getting a lot of contact, and we just don’t get a whistle. It’s hard to play like that, it’s hard.
“If the tables were reversed I would do it every time. I mean I would also do it if I go to the free throw line every time I threw my arms up or every time I was touched. kinda hard not to get into a rhythm like that when you shoot 21 free throws on your own and they allow you to hack on the other side.
“It’s tough, but we fought. The team did a good job. We were there to give ourselves a win and tried to turn it back on Friday.”
Embiid was briefed on Smart’s comments during his post-game interview. Of course, the big man had some thoughts on how Smart saw the game play, noting that Smart himself is quite well known for selling phone calls to the officials.
“Marcus Smart just told me I hit a lot?” Embiid said. “Come on. I’m sure he knows himself, and he knows his game too, he does that much. And I don’t think I do. I mean if you watch basketball and if you’re a student of the game. And if you really pay attention during the game, we all see. With every mistake I get dirty. They probably don’t call them all like the last one. There were three minutes left, I went upstairs, and that was a mistake and they knew, but they didn’t call, so there’s a lot they don’t call, and a lot they call because you have to.
“The game is physical. Other teams tend to be extra physical against me. And I think I’m just smarter than everyone else. I just take advantage of it. I just take advantage of how they protect me. don’t know call basketball IQ like you’re gonna put your hand up there I’m gonna take advantage of it and I’m going to the free throw line because I know I’m a great free throw and that’s a better chance for me to help the team win in those situations. “
What was clear on Wednesday was that Embiid was the dominant figure in the game, even if one or two foul calls could be made. With Jayson Tatum out, the Celtics had four players who finished with a minimum of 19 points: Jaylen Brown (26), Smart (25), Theis (23) and Kemba Walker (19 in just 22 minutes).
But despite that offensive output, the Celtics couldn’t do anything with Embiid all night long. He used his great advantage to get one tight look at the basket after another.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens, when asked about Embiid’s repeated attempts at the charity line, simply said his team should better avoid going there.
“We have to do our best to play without pollution,” said Stevens. ‘I’ll go back and check them all out to see what we can do better. He’s going to score, but 42 is too much. It becomes difficult to win a match when the best player of the opposing team scores 42 points.
“You have to go back to how we can get better. Not only did he score those points, he also played quite well with the doubles a few times, which led to three points. He had a huge impact on tonight’s game, and he was great. . “
Wednesday’s game marked the second time in eight days that Embiid had 40 points at home against a fellow Eastern Conference power. He scored 45 points, including 35 points in the second half and extra time, January 12, against the Miami Heat.
The win improved Philadelphia to 10-2 when Embiid plays this season. Coach Doc Rivers and Embiid’s teammates then sang his praises.
“It’s not kind of, it’s definitely MVP caliber [play]”said Tobias Harris, who had 22 points.” Night after night he checks the game, he checks the paint.
“[He’s] Definitely setting up an MVP year, and one of the biggest things is that we keep going game after game, making progress, even him, during this year. But I’m happy for him because that’s what he put into it, and if you win, or are successful as a team, you definitely get that kind of fame. “