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
TP Mike (I think I'm the only one who is handing these out nowadays
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The 76er franchise has been moribund. They have had one winning season in a dozen years (and that was strike shortened). Think of how much that's cost them in ticket sales, fans, apparel, playoff fees and other lost revenues to the franchise value. That kind of losing can really hurt the long term appeal of a franchise as now there's a whole generation who know the 76ers as nothing but losers.
That's the whole issue with this Philly rebuild. It didn't take a genius or even a guy with guts to do it. It took someone who had no vision. Now they know that at least three of their top picks - Saric, Okafor and Noel - aren't franchise-building material. That's not to say they can't contribute (though they all can't at the same time) or have some trade value but they're in essence lesser assets than they were. Now they're down to Embiid, Simmons and whoever comes along this year, hoping that these guys can carry the franchise. They're going to hold their breath on Embiid for a good long while as he's an injury away from being Greg Oden. Simmons has yet to play a minute in the NBA. That's really not a lot to show for a decade plus of losing.
Maybe they'll get lucky. Maybe they get Mourning, a better version of Odom and a good pick or two this year to form a very solid core. But just as easily they could see Embiid go down again, get an average Lamar Odom and then they have very little to show for a decade of losing.
I'd much rather take the approach Danny has. He's built a formidable team from almost spare parts and still has the draft assets to go after young talent. I won't deny that Simmons and Embiid are worth far more than Brown and Smart but that's the thing - neither of our guys has to carry the team at this stage. They're going to learn how to win on the court and what it takes to win in the NBA off the court. They don't have to deal with the pressure of carrying a team until the time is right for them to do so. That's such a huge advantage. Meanwhile, the franchise is selling tickets, merchandise and there's a whole generation of young fans who are learning to follow the Celtics.