This year we have another Eastern Conference Finals without the Philadelphia 76ers present.
Joel Embiid is the best player on this team and their leader.
However, he has not been able to get them past the second-round of the playoffs.
The talks have been scattered throughout the entire 76ers roster.
Embiid is great, but some may say he is overrated.
They might condemn him on his inability to lead his team to success.
That is usually how superstars are treated in the media; extremely harsh.
Embiid might be no different.
However, does the talk about him necessarily mean it is true?
Embiid is a superstar in this league who doesn’t deserve an overrated label due to a series loss.
Yes, it is disappointing to some degree, but context does matter.
Embiid is not overrated and here are three reasons why.
3. Look At The Numbers
The numbers do not lie in regard to Embiid.
He has been a 20-plus scorer since his rookie season.
Each season has been an improvement for him.
This season was the best he has ever had.
What a season for Joel Embiid:
➖ Averaged a career-high 28.5 PPG
➖ Led Sixers to best record in East (49-23)
➖ Played with partially torn meniscus in playoffs
➖ All-Star, All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team pic.twitter.com/P9mmXyjSI3— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2021
28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game were his averages.
He also shot 51 percent from the field and 86 percent from the free-throw line.
The man can even shoot the three as he was at a 38 percent clip.
His numbers are astonishing for a big man.
The numbers say that this man is far from overrated.
2. The Accolades
When you look up Embiid’s accolades, you see someone with an illustrious career already.
He just turned 27 years old, but has accomplished a lot thus far.
The man is a four-time All-Star.
He has made the All-NBA team three times and All-NBA defensive team three times as well.
His biggest accomplishment perhaps is a what if.
If Embiid didn’t suffer an injury during this season, he would most likely had won MVP this year.
Joel Embiid this season:
🔒 Averaged a career-high 1.0 steals per game
🔒 Averaged 1.4 blocks per game
🔒 3rd All-Defensive Team Selection in his five NBA seasons…and finished second in MVP voting. Dominant. pic.twitter.com/NZVJgbnchW
— Lauren Rosen (@LaurenMRosen) June 14, 2021
Nikola Jokic deserved the award.
However, Embiid had the better scoring numbers and led the 76ers to the number one seed in the East.
He would have been the first MVP for the franchise since Allen Iverson.
Embiid has the accolades already for a Hall of Fame career, but is continuing to add more.
1. He Is Still Not In The Best System
The 76ers have a dilemma on their hand.
That dilemma is named Ben Simmons.
He is a liability for the 76ers and it is hindering the growth of Embiid.
"I just received a text from somebody very, very close to the situation in Philadelphia about Ben Simmons. … ‘He doesn’t work, he doesn’t listen, and everyone around him is family, and he’s constantly babied.’"
📱 @stephenasmith 🗣 pic.twitter.com/PyUXzv8Vw8
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 22, 2021
For five years, the 76ers have been playing an offensive system that is not suited for everyone involved.
Spacing tends to be too tight and there is no room to operate.
That has been the last several years, but Embiid has still been dominant.
Their offense has not been able to click for a full season.
Despite the issues with the offense and roster, Embiid has been able to put up MVP-caliber seasons.
Embiid is simply not overrated.
He is an unstoppable force that still has room to grow.
The 76ers need to fix this issue and maximize his full potential.
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