Sixers star big man and early-bird MVP candidate Joel Embiid fires back at Marcus Smart for calling him a ‘flopper’ after their win.
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The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 117-109 tonight. The Sixers rode on Joel Embiid’s mammoth performance to secure the win. Embiid recorded 42 points and 10 rebounds. The Sixers’ star reacted to the comments made by Marcus Smart after winning the game.
Joel Embiid, on Marcus Smart calling him a flopper: “Marcus Smart just told me that I flail a lot? Come on. I’m sure he knows himself and he knows his game. You know he does a lot of that.”
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) January 21, 2021
The Sixers and the Celtics have been the top teams in the East for the past few years. They’ve faced each other quite a few times in the post-season. Last season the Celtics beat the Sixers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
Joel Embiid shares how he ‘outsmarts’ opponents like Marcus Smart
Joel Embiid is now playing his 5th season in the NBA. In his seven years, he now knows how the league works and knows how to take advantage of things. He shared how he uses his opponents’ recklessness to his advantage, and more:
“The game is physical, other teams tend to try to be extra physical against me, and I guess I’m just smarter than everybody else…If you’re gonna put your hand up there, I’m gonna take advantage of it and I’m gonna get to the free-throw line.”
Joel continued by saying that even though his ‘Basketball IQ’ may not be the best, he knows how to find ways to make his team win. His entire comment read:
Joel Embiid’s full comments in response to Marcus Smart’s claim that he flails a lot to get foul calls: pic.twitter.com/L3SZcqkILE
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 21, 2021
Even the Celtics Head Coach Brad Stevens had comments regarding Embiid:
“He’s going to score some, but 42 is too much. I thought not only did he score those points, he also handed the double (team) pretty well and on a couple of occasions, it led to 3-pointers.”
Embiid is playing at a high level this season and is considered as one of the top guys in the MVP race. Embiid and co. would face the Celtics again on Friday for their second matchup of the back-to-back.
