Sixers slowing the pace when Joel Embiid is in the game
Not surprisingly, because of Embiid's knee tendinitis, the Sixers can't play as much of a running game with him in the lineup.
TORONTO — Brett Brown likes to play a transition game, but the 76ers coach conceded that Joel Embiid’s injury problems have limited those opportunities when he is in on the floor.
Speaking at the Sixers’ shootaround Monday before Game 2 against Toronto, Brown said Embiid’s latest injury, left knee tendinitis, has changed the style of play when he is in the game. Embiid missed 14 of the final 24 regular-season games and also sat out Game 3 of the opening playoff series, against the Brooklyn Nets.
"The reality, the fact that he has not, you know, played a ton of basketball, none of us should be shocked that he is not at 100 percent fitness, and you could see it the other night,” Brown said, referring to the Sixers’ 108-95 loss to the Raptors in Game 1 on Saturday.
“There are times when you get Joel’s situation and he is trending in the direction we want. But to feel like it is going to be a track meet with Jo at this stage, given his lack of playing opportunities over the last month, would be ridiculously naïve and unfair to him.”
Embiid missed Monday’s shootaround because of gastroenteritis, but the Sixers said he was probable for the game.
Brown said it was his job to tailor the offense around’s Embiid’s physical condition. In his first five playoff games, Embiid averaged 25.4 minutes, compared with 33.7 in 64 regular-season games.
“So, as opposed to me force-feeding an incredible amount of pace, which I think we are good at when we do play fast, and so somewhere in the middle, you try to create an environment where he is still Joel Embiid and is as skilled as any big man in the NBA,” Brown said.
Anybody can play point guard?
Jimmy Butler has seen considerable time at point guard lately.
“I mean, I don’t think, is it really a point guard?,” the four-time All-Star forward said before the shootaround. “I think our offense is really basic for the most part — you come down, throw it to the trail; you come down and run a floppy or something like that. It is not too hard.”
He believes anybody can be plugged into the point-guard role.
"You can have Jo dribble up the court and initiate offense,” Butler said, referring to Embiid. “I just think it is a basketball position; anybody can do it on our team. It is all about getting everybody in the right spot.”
Scott looking for court work
Mike Scott missed his second straight game with a right heel bruise/plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Scott hasn’t been on the court since suffering the heel injury last Tuesday in the series-clinching win over the Brooklyn Nets.
“I am working toward getting back and getting treatment every day,” Scott said before the game. “I want to play in this series.”
Since suffering the injury, Scott said, he has done no work on the court.
“I will try to do some stuff tomorrow and Wednesday and see how it feels,” Scott said.
Up next
The series will move to Philadelphia for Game 3 at 8 p.m. Thursday, with Game 4 at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.