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Frustrated Joel Embiid seems to call teammates out after blowout loss

Sixers star Joel Embiid during NBA Playoff game against Celtics
Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid scored 34 points on 11-of-21 shooting against the Boston Celtics Wednesday evening.

In no way was it enough for Philadelphia to even its first-round playoff series. Boston came out on top in blowout fashion, 128-101, to take a 2-0 series lead.

During the game, it became rather clear that the always boisterous Embiid was frustrated over his team’s performance.

While the All-Star center seemed to take a different approach in the locker room following the game, Embiid’s words tell us a story.

“It would be a different story if we were going back to Philly because we never seem to lose in front of our fans,” Embiid said, via Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times. “We got to be more physical than them. We got to keep moving the ball. We just got to keep on going. I guess I got to do more.”

It’s the last part of this statement that stands out. “I guess I got to do more.” Embiid scored of Philadelphia’s 101 points. The Sixers bench scored a total of 20 points, finishing a combined minus-54 in the process.

In reality, that’s the issue for Philadelphia now that Ben Simmons is sidelined. The team doesn’t have a go-to second option that can create his own shot. While Simmons has his issues shooting from the perimeter, he’s at least able to help Embiid shoulder the load.

It’s also not a surprise that Embiid would show this type of frustration. He’s passionate about the game. Down 2-0 against what seems to be a vastly superior Celtics team, it would not be a surprise if this frustration continued to boil over as the series draws to a conclusion.

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