Joel Embiid sat out the Philadelphia 76ers‘ first 9 video games of the season as he labored on his conditioning. Tuesday night time, it was clear that conditioning nonetheless wants some work.
At the start of Tuesday’s Emirates Cup recreation towards the New York Knicks, Embiid regarded like a man who hadn’t performed an actual recreation of basketball because the Olympics three months in the past. The 2023 NBA MVP missed two exterior pictures and misplaced the ball out of bounds earlier than asking out of the sport after 4:50 had elapsed within the first quarter.
The massive man nonetheless made an impression, even when it wasn’t the same old Embiid dominance. He returned with 2:16 left within the quarter and located teammates for three-point baskets on consecutive possessions, a part of his three first-quarter assists. Embiid’s go and display screen received rookie Jared McCain vast open for a 3 ball, proving that you do not want nice cardio to protect a defender while you’re seven ft tall.
Nor did Embiid should be in tip-top form to attract fouls. He scored all eight of his first-half factors on free throws, utilizing his mixture of offensive strikes — and a grasp thespian’s potential to promote contact — to get himself to the foul line.
Nonetheless winded he received, Embiid nonetheless makes the 76ers appear to be a special staff when he is out on the ground. The subsequent step is rising his endurance so he can truly be on the market.
