Oh, and for a little perspective, Embiid is looking real good but he's 22 and will turn 23 this season.
Embiid is averaging 19.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. 22-year-old rookie Alonzo Mourning averaged 21 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.
But wait! Embiid is on a minutes and game restriction. He's averaging 25 minutes a game and is on pace to only play about 50 games. Mourning averaged 34 minutes and played 78 games as a rookie. Well, the per 36 numbers have Embiid at 28 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks and Mourning at 22.3 points, 11 rebounds and 3.7 blocks. But per 36, Embiid is also averaging 19.7 shots a game to Mounings 15.2.
And Embiid has still played fewer games in the NBA than he did his only year in college.
I'd kill for Boston to have a center as good as Mourning but if you suck for half a decade and at the end of if you've got Mourning and a better version of Lamar Odom to show for it, was it really worth it?
Mike
Wow. So you're saying Embiid who has maybe 100 organized basketball games on his belt in his entire life and is working off two seasons of injury rust that continues to have his minutes limited as he gets into shape - is already playing comparable basketball to a Hall Of Fame player who came into the league healthy after 4 years of College basketball back when College basketball actually had serious competition? That's pretty amazing.
I came into this season expecting Embiid to be a long-term star who in this first recovery season would maybe average 15-20 minutes per game with like 8 points, 4 rebounds and a block I figured if he averaged close to what Andre Drummond did as a rookie (7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1 steal) it would have to be considered a massive win given how raw Embiid was coming out of college and the fact he's been bedridden for two years. But now you're telling me the kid is already playing on the same level as a hall of fame player... that's incredible.
Those are ridiculously low expectations
Nobody would have been surprised if a guy who hasn't played basketball in two years and is adjusting to the NBA game would put up mediocre stats. Jaylen Brown is averaging like 3 points and he's not working off 2 years of basketball rust.
Mbunge is moving the goal posts. He didn't think Embiid would ever play. Then he didn't think Embiid would make it 20 games. Now he's acting like it's a disappointment that Embiid is only as good as a hall of fame center as a rookie. I have a feeling Philly could improbably make the playoffs (basically impossible this year, but should happen in the next 3) and MBunge would make a post acting like it's a disappointment they didn't win a championship.
I thought and still believe the major question with Joel is his injuries.
He was the clear cut #1 prospect over 2 guys who were branded as the 2 best prospects in years.
I mean Wiggins and Parker are big time and Embiid was a no-brainer over him. He had a terrible medical situation but he was still picked ahead of 4 or 5 projected stars.
For me, if Embiid ever touched the court he was likely to be a beast. Last two big men to sit out their rookie years due to injury were Noel and Griffin. Griffin was much more skilled out of Oklahoma while Embiid was more raw, but both those guys had great rookie seasons
Noel: 10/8 with 2 steals and 2 blocks
Griffin:23/12/4 arguably his best season as a pro.
Skipping a year is a huge advantage skipping two must be massive. Drummond was a far inferrior prospect and didnt have 2 years to prepare for his debut. I expect Embiid to improve, but not nearly as much as a typical rookie. Luckily for Philly fans, even with little improvement Embiid is a franchise altering talent.
The questions about his health are still very much there. Hes played one half of one season on a minutes restriction and sitting out back to backs.
Topic: All Things Philadelphia 76ers (merged Sixers threads) (Read 375580 times)