Joel Embiid misses morning shoot-around ahead of Game 5, as members of the local and national media continue to slander his performance in the first round of the NBA playoffs

According to the Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid missed today’s morning shoot-around because he’s dealing with a migraine. Kelly Oubre Jr. was also missing and is listed as probable for tonight’s Game 5 because of an illness.

Joel Embiid Questionable. Kelly Oubre Jr Probable.

Joel Embiid missed shootaround this morning with a migraine. His status for tonight’s game remains questionable.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) April 30, 2024

Embiid is listed as questionable for tonight’s must-win Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, but that should come as no surprise as the reigning NBA MVP continues to play through a busted knee and a mild case of Bell’s Palsy.

I stand corrected. That should come as no surprise to everyone except village idiot Michael Lombardi who doesn’t know shit about anything but still has the audacity to fire off tweets about Joel Embiid.

You have to be completely tone deaf to miss shoot around. What high level competitor would ever allow the team to release that report? But he knows he has people in high media places to continue to make excuses for him. Never accountable.

— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) April 30, 2024

Please ignore idiots like Michael Lombardi. What type of loser tweets out something like this? It’s mind boggling someone so stupid can have a platform on social media.

There’s really not much else the Philadelphia 76ers or fans can expect from Joel Embiid in his current state. He carried this team to a Game 3 win with a 50-point effort and backed it up again with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in the Game 4 loss on Sunday afternoon.

Joel Embiid Game 3: 50 Points | 8 Rebounds | 5 3PM

I am completely fed up (again) with the nonsense being said about the reigning NBA MVP on Philly Sports Talk Radio and social media.

The fact that any of these rats have a platform to blame or criticize Joel Embiid and his performance in the first round of the playoffs is laughable and downright embarrassing.

Blame Game: Sixers fans are mad about Knicks fans Wells Fargo Center “takeover” in Game 4 but anything outside of blaming the organization itself is simply incorrect >>

It’s a clear indication that NONE of the WIP Morning Show hosts even watch basketball. Either that, or all of the hate is could very well be just another sinister attempt in slandering Embiid?

I have no idea – I just know that it’s bullshit.

Can Embiid play better in the fourth quarter? Absolutely.

Was his postgame presser questioning Sixers fans for allowing Knicks fans “takeover” the Wells Fargo Center the wrong thing to say following a tough Game 4 loss? Absolutely.

Here’s the kicker: When Embiid can’t take a second’s rest in the second half of a playoff game without the risk of his teammates (Paul Reed) getting steamrolled by the opposing team, then I’m not really sure what fans are expecting by the time the closing minutes of the fourth quarter happen.

According to Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers’ net rating with Embiid on the floor this series has been +8.4. Without him, it’s been -43.8.

I guess we’re just going to ignore Tyrese Maxey in crunch time or Nick Nurse failing to properly manage his lineups or hell, Buddy Hield who can’t even sniff playoff rotation minutes? How about Paul Reed, who Sixers fans claimed was THE answer at backup center, basically strong arming a weak front office that was on it’s knees last summer begging for approval?

Embiid has been criticized and rightfully so but to blame this series on his performances through the first four games is simply incorrect.

Embiid returned to the Sixers’ lineup on April 2nd after missing two months following surgery on the lateral meniscus in his left knee. He averaged 30.2 points over his final five regular-season games and during the first round of the playoffs, Embiid has averaged 35.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

While history hasn’t been kind to teams down 3-1 in an NBA playoff series – there’s still reason to believe that the Philadelphia 76ers can pull off the impossible and advance to the second round.

The 76ers might be ‘deadmen walking’ but here are the 13 teams to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in NBA History >>

The New York Knicks, outside of Jalen Brunson are not a good basketball team. They have been guided by a strong supporting cast and one strong game (Game 4) by Brunson.

This series is still winnable, I guess. Game 5 starts at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.

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