Embiid Calls for Organizational Overhaul After Sixers Swept by Knicks
embiid-urges-sixers-overhaul-following-playoff-sweep
PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers’ season ended with a decisive sweep by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, punctuated by a lopsided Game 4 defeat on Sunday night.
Moments after the elimination, Joel Embiid said the franchise must improve at every level.
“At times, it’s OK to just say the other team was better,” the center told reporters. “Gotta get better, from top to bottom — ownership, front office, players, coaches. Everybody just gotta get better.”
Despite the abrupt finish, Embiid viewed the campaign as personal progress. He cited improved confidence in his surgically repaired left knee, noting that multiple procedures had left him unsure about the season’s outlook. “We came into the season thinking there was not much left — I thought I was done,” he said.
Complications from an emergency appendectomy late in the regular season also hampered the reigning MVP. Embiid explained that returning quickly reduced his core strength and affected conditioning once the playoffs began. “The things that I’ve been dealing with, they’ve all been related to the surgery,” he said. “Coming back early and jumping right to playoff basketball, that was tough.”
Asked about his legacy, Embiid kept the focus on winning. “I want to win more than anyone,” he stated. “It sucks to lose. I haven’t won anything, so that hurts.”
The night wasn’t without optimism. Both Embiid and head coach Nick Nurse praised rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, with Embiid calling the first-year player someone who “has a chance to be extremely special.”
The 76ers now head into an offseason Embiid believes must be defined by across-the-board improvement.
Source: Hoops Wire
