Joel Embiid

The City of Brotherly Love has lived up to its name again.

According to Anna Orso of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia City Council voted in favor of naming Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid its MVP: the Most Valuable Philadelphian.

Embiid had a monster 2021-22 season, leading the NBA in scoring (30.6 points per game) and averaging 11.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 blocks. With the 7'0" center leading the way, the Sixers finished fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Still, that wasn't enough for Embiid to capture the NBA's top individual honor. He finished runner-up to the Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, earning 39 fewer first-place votes.

At least the 28-year-old's value is unmatched in his home city.

It seems unlikely, though, that this MVP will wind up on his Basketball Reference page.

The Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated from the 2022 NBA playoffs with a 99-90 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 6 of their second-round series on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center, and James Harden is taking the brunt of the criticism. 

Harden finished Game 6 with just 11 points, four rebounds and nine assists in what was one of his worst postseason performances of recent memory. That said, Joel Embiid mentioned after the game that the three-time scoring champion isn't the same scoring-dominant player he was while he was with the Houston Rockets. 

"Obviously, I'm sure since we got him, everybody expected the Houston James Harden, but that's not who he is anymore," Embiid told reporters. "He's more of a playmaker. I thought, at times, as with all of us, could've been more aggressive."

In 21 regular-season games with the 76ers, Harden averaged 21 points, 7.1 rebounds and 10.5 assists. Entering Thursday's Game 6, he was averaging 19.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists in this year's playoffs. 

The Sixers acquired Harden from the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline. To Embiid's credit, the 32-year-old wasn't nearly as dominant in the scoring department during his tenure in Brooklyn either. 

In parts of two seasons with the Nets, Harden averaged 23.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game. 

All of these numbers are far from what he averaged in Houston from 2012-20. In 621 career games with the Rockets, he averaged 29.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game.

That said, he was tasked with being the team's main scorer for nearly his entire career in Houston. That wasn't the case in Brooklyn, where he was paired with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and hasn't been the case in Philadelphia, where he has played with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. 

Regardless, his lack of production has resulted in questions about his future in Philadelphia. The 10-time All-Star is eligible to sign a five-year, $270 million max deal with the 76ers this summer, but some don't believe he deserves that kind of money. 

Even if he doesn't work out an extension, Harden can opt-in to his $47.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season to remain in Philadelphia. When asked if he would opt-in, he told reporters, "I'll be here."

In that case, he'd have some time to build up his stock before potentially signing a max deal as a free agent. However, The Athletic's Sam Amick reported earlier this month that the Sixers were under the impression Harden would be willing to take a pay cut to remain with the team.

So, at this point, there's really no telling what the Harden saga will bring moving forward. As members of the Sixers organization continue to speak with the media in the days following the team's playoff elimination, we could learn more about his future in Philly. 

The Philadelphia 76ers are facing a must-win game against the Miami Heat on Thursday, and it did not get off to an ideal start.

Danny Green suffered a knee injury in the first quarter during a collision with Joel Embiid. Tim Bontemps of ESPN noted Embiid fell on Green's left leg, and the guard was helped to the locker room in the immediate aftermath.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Green was ruled out for the rest of the contest and will undergo an MRI. Wojnarowski noted there is now "significant concern" regarding the severity of the setback.

Green scored 21 points in Game 3 and 11 points in Game 4 of this series, shooting a combined 10-for-13 from deep in Philadelphia's two wins.

His outside shooting is key because it spaces the floor when defenders focus on Joel Embiid and James Harden. Green is a 39.9 percent shooter from deep in his career and averaged 5.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game this season.

The North Carolina product has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers and 76ers throughout his career and has a resume that includes three championships.

Former teammate LeBron James reacted to the injury:        

Philadelphia immediately turned to Matisse Thybulle off the bench after Green suffered the injury.

While Thybulle is nowhere near the shooter Green is, he is a formidable defender and should help contain Jimmy Butler and Co. if given more playing time. Still, the 76ers' depth on the wing takes a major hit without the veteran starter available.             

It's back-to-back for Nikola Jokic. 

For the second straight season, the Denver Nuggets center was named the NBA MVP, beating out Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Milwaukee Bucks defending champion Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

For the latter part of the 2021-22 season, a heated MVP debate emerged between Jokic and Embiid backers, with Antetokounmpo emerging as a serious contender down the stretch. 

All three made a strong argument from a traditional counting stats perspective:

• Jokic: 27.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 7.9 APG, 58.3 percent from the field, 33.7 percent from three
• Embiid: 30.6 PPG (tops in the NBA), 11.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.5 BPG, 49.9 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three, 11.8 free-throw attempts and 9.6 free throws made per game (both tops in the league)
• Antetokounmpo: 29.9 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.4 BPG, 55.3 percent from the field, 29.3 percent from three

The narrative for Jokic winning the award was that he led the Nuggets to 48 wins and a playoff berth despite being without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. for the majority of the season, he's an advanced-stats darling and he posted historical marks this past season:

Embiid's case centered around him leading the league in scoring as the first center to do so since Shaquille O'Neal in the 1999-00 campaign.

But he was also the keystone of Philly's defense (the team's 107.8 defensive rating with Embiid on the court would rank fourth overall in the NBA) and led the team to 51 wins despite much of the season being clouded by the Ben Simmons controversy, as Embiid's long-time running mate sat out the season while demanding a trade until he was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that sent James Harden to Philly. 

While Giannis and Jokic have now won the past four MVP awards, Embiid is still chasing his first. 

As for Antetokounmpo, he led the Bucks to 51 wins as well, and, like Embiid, a good chunk of his case for winning the award was his status one of the league's most impactful two-way players. The two-time MVP also finished second in scoring among qualifying players. 

In most seasons, any of Jokic, Embiid or Giannis would have been viable winners. But with all three putting up excellent campaigns, it turned into quite the race. Ultimately, voters sided with Jokic yet again. 

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid noticeably had a lack of energy during Tuesday's 120-85 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

After the game, Embiid told reporters that he felt he had the right mindset for the matchup, but his body didn't cooperate amid his multiple ailments.

"There's a lot going on. Sometimes your body, and whatever that's going on, as you know, just won't allow you to just be yourself," Embiid said. "In those moments,  you've just gotta keep pushing and hope for the best."

Embiid led the Sixers with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting in the blowout loss, which put Philadelphia in a 3-2 hole. Throughout the broadcast, the commentary wondered if Embiid's lack of energy was tied to Nikola Jokic reportedly being named NBA MVP for the second straight season.

However, Embiid was more likely hindered by the injuries that have plagued him throughout this postseason. He's dealt with a concussion, facial fracture and injuries to his hand and wrist. Tuesday's game was also a very physical contest that saw Embiid hit the floor multiple times.

Embiid wasn't the only Philadelphia player to struggle on Tuesday. James Harden followed up a 31-point performance in Game 4 with just 14 points. Tobias Harris added 12, and Tyrese Maxey had nine points on 2-of-10 shooting.

The Sixers allowed the Heat to shoot a blistering 53.6 percent from the field. Miami also out-rebounded Philadelphia 46-36.

"They were just more physical," Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers said after the game. "We didn't run anything. We didn't run our stuff very well. We played at a snail's pace ... everything they did tonight was harder and better. Their stuff was better, their energy was better."

The Sixers will look to avoid being eliminated from the postseason on their home floor on Thursday.

Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic reportedly won the NBA's 2022 MVP award for the second straight year, beating out Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid for the honor.

Speaking to reporters after Philly's 120-85 Game 5 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Embiid congratulated Jokic for winning the award, which has yet to be officially announced. He also said "there's no right or wrong" answer between himself, Antetokounmpo, Jokic and even Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker for the honor.

Many believed Embiid, this year's scoring champion, should have been named the league's MVP after he put together the best statistical season of his career. He was also the first center since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 to be named scoring champion.

The 28-year-old averaged 30.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 49.9 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from deep in 68 regular-season games. He also averaged 1.1 steals and 1.5 block per game.

Embiid's career year helped the Sixers finish fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 51-31 record. They were technically tied for the second-best record in the East, but the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks earned the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively, because of tiebreakers.

What's even more impressive about Embiid's performance is that he did it without a true No. 2 beside him as Ben Simmons sat out until he was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden. That said, Tyrese Maxey also had a career year and blossomed into a star for the Sixers.

Even 76ers head coach Doc Rivers was disappointed that Embiid didn't win the award, telling reporters before Tuesday's Game 5 that he's unsure what more the 2014 third overall pick could have done"

I don't know if a guy could've done more than he did this year, play without the second-best player [Ben Simmons] all year. Listen, his resume was great. I'm not taking anything away from Jokic either, because he's a hell of a player.

I do think this whole analytic-driven society, world is out of control at times with some of the measures that they use. Like, watch the dang game and decide is what I've always said.

Jokic was still deserving of the honor, especially considering he led a severely depleted Nuggets team, which was without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. for much of the season, to the playoffs.

The 27-year-old also improved upon his numbers from the 2020-21 season, when he won his first MVP award. He averaged a career-high 27.1 points and 13.8 rebounds, in addition to 7.9 assists and 1.5 steals, in 74 regular-season games.

In addition, Jokic shot 58.3 percent from the floor and 33.7 percent from deep and became the first player in NBA history to record 2,000 points (2,004), 1,000 rebounds (1,019), and 500 assists (584) in a single season.

Considering Embiid is just 28 years old, he still has plenty of time to add an MVP trophy to his numerous accolades. Who knows, maybe it will come as early as next season. 

The Philadelphia 76ers were riding high entering Tuesday's Game 5 against the Miami Heat after back-to-back wins on their home floor, but those good vibes were short-lived.

The Sixers reverted back to the lackluster effort level that cost them in the first two games of the series, resulting in a 120-85 blowout loss to the Heat at FTX Arena to fall behind 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Miami hit Philadelphia with an avalanche to start the game and never looked back, shooting an impressive 53.6 percent from the field. The Sixers' defense wasn't any better than its offense, with no player on the team reaching 20 points.

Star center Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 17 points, but he looked lethargic throughout the game and only attempted 12 shots. James Harden had 14 points, and Tobias Harris added 12. After averaging 23 points in the first four games, Tyrese Maxey was held to nine points on 2-of-10 shooting.

No player on the Sixers was immune from the wrath of fans and critics online who were vocal about the team's dismal effort in a crucial playoff game, with some even accusing them of giving up.

The Sixers have proved able to defeat the Heat, so games like this cannot be tolerated. It should not be up to Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers to beg his players to show some heart in a pivotal playoff game. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened Tuesday.

The Sixers now face the possibility of being eliminated from the playoffs on their home floor. If they come out with lackluster effort against Miami again, they will have no chance in Thursday's Game 6.

Last month, B/R NBA writers were asked to pick our league MVP. I had Nikola Jokic third, behind Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

After tallying our results, Jokic was the winner, but it was close. We were then asked, "Are We Sure Nikola Jokic Should Be MVP?"

Here was my response:

"Jokic is a statistical dream come true: a big man who can bang in the paint, knock down threes and still manage to get his teammates involved in the role of playmaker. But I'm not convinced Jokic makes his teammates that much better, which should be a given when you are the NBA's best player. I know the Nuggets have had a slew of injuries. That can't be ignored. But his available teammates have not elevated their play significantly this season with Jokic. He still seems to struggle at times determining when he needs to take over and when he needs to try to get others involved."

I like Jokic. He is a fine player who has clearly established himself as one of the game’s best. 

But the idea of him being this year's MVP for the second straight season was laughable to me.

The NBA is expected to formally announce this week that Jokic did win MVP, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Him winning this year is yet another reminder that we put far more stock in a player's individual statistics than we do to what should matter most: winning. 

Denver won 48 games in a season in which the Western Conference’s middle class wasn't nearly as strong as its Eastern Conference brethren. To get into the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, the last team in (Charlotte) won 43 regular-season games. Out West, the San Antonio Spurs snagged the last play-in spot with 34 victories. 

Placing a high value on winning is nothing new to the MVP conversation. For years, the award has been mostly about the best player on a team that won a ton of games during the regular season. For MVPs who aren't on one of the top few seeds in their respective conferences, their individual play tends to be far and away better than anyone else's, making it a no-brainer that they are the best player in the game for that season. 

Jokic did not meet that threshold.

Even with all of the challenges Denver faced this season, an MVP should deliver more wins—or at least lead his team to better than a No. 6 seed.

This is especially true when comparing Jokic to Embiid and Antetokounmpo, both of whom had strong stats and also lifted their teams to better records and a real shot at a title.  

For those who argue Jokic did a lot for Denver with less surrounding talent and therefore deserves to be the MVP, I hear you. But last I checked, the award is called the NBA's Most Valuable Player, not the NBA Analytics Most Valuable Player On An Injury-Riddled Team.

Jokic guiding the Nuggets into the playoffs as the sixth seed was impressive. But if you're the MVP, you find a way to win at a high level regardless of who is healthy. Jokic did not do that in 2021-22.

How many times did LeBron James lead a team that talent-wise should have barely qualified for the playoffs to one of the top seeds? But we want to celebrate a great player under less-than-ideal circumstances for leading his team to the No. 6 spot?

We did so in 2016-17 when Russell Westbrook won the MVP and the Oklahoma City Thunder were a sixth seed. However, Westbrook averaged a triple-double that season, joining Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to ever accomplish that feat. 

While there's certainly value in Jokic becoming the first player in league history to register 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a single season while having a career season shooting the ball, the MVP award has never been and never should be about stats only. 

MVPs have significant crossover appeal, but at a minimum, they fill the stands at home, right? 

This past season, the Nuggets ranked 16th in the league in average home attendance. Only 86.9 percent of their seats were filled at home, which ranked 20th in the league. 

Meanwhile, Embiid and Antetokounmpo's teams ranked No. 2 and No. 12 in home attendance, respectively. When it came to the percentage of seats filled at home, the Bucks were No. 2 in the NBA, while the Sixers were eighth.

That’s why I gave Embiid and Giannis the MVP advantage over Jokic. They had strong statistical seasons that captivated fans to turn out and see them play, and they got their teams home-court advantage in Round 1 as the fourth and third seeds in the East, respectively.

The Value of 'Empty Stats'

After winning MVP last year, Jokic averaged career highs this season in points (27.1) and rebounds (13.8) per game. However, some key factors contributed to that boost.

Jokic played the entire 2021-22 campaign without point guard Jamal Murray, the team’s second-best player and arguably best scorer. The Nuggets also got only nine games out of Michael Porter Jr. (back), the third-best player on the team, before he underwent season-ending back surgery. 

Without Murray and Porter on the floor, defenses could devote more of their attention to Jokic. Despite that, he shot a career-best 58.3 percent from the field, which is undeniably impressive.

Although Jokic's efficiency was great, it needed to come with an increased urgency. As much as the Nuggets needed Jokic, he needed to take full command of the ball in every aspect night in and night out.

Jokic deserves major props for the 7.9 assists per game that he averaged this season considering what he had to work with at that end of the floor. However, the scoring (0.7 more points per game than last season) and rebounding aren’t as impressive considering the caliber of players who were injured. 

If Not Jokic, Who?

The player I picked for MVP, Embiid, raised his assist numbers from 2.8 per game last year to 4.2 this season. Embiid also led the league in scoring, which is almost unheard of for a center. His team won enough games to have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and at least one of his teammates (Tyrese Maxey) experienced a breakout season in part because of his play, presence and impact on the game. 

Jokic’s per-game and advanced numbers looked better than Embiid’s overall, but the margin between the two was close. For those pointing to Jokic’s better assist numbers, I counter with Embiid scoring more points and being a significantly better defender. That's never more evident than when you consider where Embiid is when the Sixers need a critical defensive stop, especially compared to Jokic's defensive struggles when teams run pick-and-rolls and get him switched out on a guard.

The historical relevance of Jokic becoming the NBA's first 2,000-1,000-500 player, while subject to debate among fans and analysts alike, isn't as important as Embiid's season for the modern-day center—at least if you ask me.

Embiid led the league in scoring, becoming the first center to do so since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000. And by averaging 30.6 points per game, he became the first at his position to average 30 or more points since Moses Malone in 1982.

Dominant centers like him are supposed to be extinct in today's wing- and guard-friendly NBA.

All three MVP finalists had to overcome adversity this season. Jokic got a combined 265 minutes from Murray and Porter. Embiid kept the Sixers together through Ben Simmons' offseason trade request and absence from the team until he got sent to Brooklyn for James Harden at the trade deadline. And Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP, was playing out of position for a large stretch of the season with center Brook Lopez injured. 

Jokic did a lot with little to work with this season. He's unquestionably the MVP of the Nuggets. But was he worthy of the league MVP?

A lot of folks felt that way. I’m not one of them.