By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images |
The Philadelphia 76ers have seen the glory for the first time since 1982. After trailing a 3-1 series lead, the 76ers have defeated the Boston Celtics on the road in a playoff series for the first time in 44 years.
In addition, the 76ers are the first No. 7 seed in the East to defeat a No. 2 seed since the first round expanded to best-of-seven in 2003. It’s only the 14th time in NBA history that a team has come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a series.
What is there to say about Joel Embiid? When he’s fully healthy, he’s one of the best in the game. Embiid has battled numerous injuries throughout his career. In the last three years, he’s missed 150 games due to injuries such as Bell’s Palsy, two orbital fractures, two torn meniscuses, and a torn thumb ligament.
Embiid only played 38 games this season. His return to the lineup changed the momentum of the series. He showed up like a true star in the last three games. In Game 7, Embiid scored 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. He’s tired of losing to the Celtics, and he finally got his revenge. Years ago, he didn’t think it was a rivalry because the Celtics always got the best of the 76ers.
The duo between Embiid and Tyrese Maxey is magnificent. Embiid and Maxey are the 3rd duo in NBA history to each have 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a Game 7. They are in great company with some of the best to play this game: Elgin Baylor and Jerry West (1963) and Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain (1970).
It’s been a crazy rookie season for VJ Edgecombe. The playoffs did not bring fear to him. It also helps that his teammates have a lot of confidence in him to shoot the ball. Everything came into full circle for Edgecombe. In his debut, he scored 34 points against the Celtics at TD Garden. Now, in Game 7, Edgecombe scored 23 points in the same environment. What a moment for this young man.
It’s going to be round two between the 76ers and the New York Knicks. They met last year in the first round, and now they will meet in the second round. It’s going to be a heavyweight battle at the point guard position between Maxey and Jalen Brunson.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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