Joel Embiid carried the Philadelphia 76ers to a 113-97 Game 5 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. He scored 33 points, dished out 8 assists, and silenced the TD Garden in the second half. Skip Bayless noticed this silence and had a lot to say about the former MVP.
As the Sixers look to cut the series to 3-2 with Game 6 on Thursday, Bayless weighs in on Embiid’s career arc.
Skip Bayless Calls Joel Embiid the Original ‘Alien’
Bayless made the case that Embiid was the original “alien”, long before the label found Victor Wembanyama.
“I hear, night after night, about that alien in San Antonio,” Bayless said. “This guy has been the alien for the last decade, when he feels like it. Some nights, he goes back to whatever planet he came from, never to be seen. But Joel Embiid, to me, former MVP, is the biggest tease in the history of professional basketball, because when he is healthy, and he feels like playing basketball, there’s nothing better than him.”
Bayless’ praise extended to the Boston matchup. The longtime sports commentator called Embiid the best player on the floor to face the Celtics. Be it Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, Bayless believes that when Embiid is right, “they can’t stop him, they can’t touch him.”
Embiid’s Game 5 performance backs up Bayless’ opinion.
Embiid shot 12-of-23 from the field, hit 9-of-10 free throws, and scored 18 of his 33 points after halftime. Boston led 63-50 in the third quarter and looked ready to celebrate a series win, just when Embiid took it apart.
Tyrese Maxey added 25-10-5. Quentin Grimes hit four threes off the bench for 18 points. The Celtics scored 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Despite this incredible performance by Embiid and the 76ers, Bayless questioned whether Embiid could have played three games of the series after his surgery. According to Bayless, doctors did clear him earlier, but he chose to sit out. He argued that had Embiid been on the floor for those games, the series’ trajectory might be different right now.
But the same monologue also carried a sharper edge. Bayless did not forget to sprinkle in a bit of criticism after all the praise. He framed Embiid as a player who disappears when it matters the most.
“He is 0-for-3 in Game 7s in his career,” Bayless said. “When you need him the most, he is often not there.”
These numbers do make some sense, as Embiid has played in Game 7s thrice in his career so far: 2019 against Toronto, 2021 against Atlanta, and 2023 against Boston. He’s lost all three of them, averaging 22.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across them.
His injury adds to his misery. Embiid has played 96 games over the last three seasons combined. His 2023 MVP campaign, where he averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, feels like a different player when compared to his recent run of knee problems and missed time.
Game 6 tips Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center.
