Why Joel Embiid should dominate Karl-Anthony Towns in his season debut tonight

FOR THE CUP: Joel Embiid is expected to make his season debut tonight after a lingering knee injury and more recently, a three-game suspension kept him off the basketball court through the first nine games of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2024-25 schedule.

The 76ers, they have been absolutely miserable to watch, posting a lousy 2-7 record without Embiid anchoring the team. As if watching Embiid-less 76ers basketball wasn’t brutal enough, Paul George was also missing to start the season and now Tyrese Maxey is expected to miss weeks with a bum hamstring.

I will say, watching Guerschon Yabusele and Jared McCain blossum with increased playing time has been pretty great, even more so with last game’s overtime win but still, this 76ers unit without Embiid healthy is nothing more than a lottery team.

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All that considered, let’s just say that the majority of 76ers are ready to get this season officially started and tonight’s matchup against the New York Knicks, on top of being the first NBA Cup Group Play game, I would fully expect a pissed off Joel Embiid to have a field day against Karl Anthony Towns.

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Embiid has always had KAT’s number- before or after the whistle (shoutout Ben Simmons) and anyone would be downright foolish to think tonight will be any different.

Joel Embiid Owns Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns is very talented, but now in the East, he’ll have to compete against top big men, including his toughest opponent, Joel Embiid.

In their 11 head-to-head matchups, Embiid has won eight of them and posed much better box score averages than KAT. It’s also worth noting that Embiid had a 51 point, 14 rebound, and 8 assist night against KAT in 2023.

Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t:

Joel Embiid: 28.6 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG

KAT: 21.4 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG

This matchup has been very one-sided. Embiid’s impact on both offense and defense has overwhelmed Towns. In their last ten games, Embiid has shot over 50% while limiting Towns’ shooting efficiency when they face off. Not to mention, KAT is absolutely horrible at protecting the rim.

LOOK: Knicks Center Karl-Anthony Towns’ stats protecting the rim

Karl-Anthony Towns is allowing opponents to shoot 32/35 (91.4%) in the restricted area 😳, per @TimBontemps

(h/t @TheKnicksRecap )

pic.twitter.com/kSggEyUT8H

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 11, 2024

Fake News, Lame-stream Philly Sports Talk Radio propagandists from the WIP Morning Show release ridiculous poll ahead of Joel Embiid’s season debut tonight vs Knicks >>

WOW. Allowing 32 out of 35 points in the paint when KAT is the rim protector is concerning. If I were a Knicks fan, I would be terrified of what Joel Embiid could, and should, do to them tonight and throughout the season.

This is a major reason why this acquisition by the Knicks never moved the needle for me or made me nervous. Joel Embiid is going to have his way, and barring any minute restrictions or injuries, he should dominate tonight.

Tonight, expect Joel Embiid to remind everyone exactly who the hell he is, making a statement not just for this team and fans, but for the entire NBA: he’s here to dominate.

Despite the setbacks and injuries he has gone through, when Embiid steps on the court, there is not anyone who can match his impact game after game.

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