Embiid/Jokic/Giannis all play each other between this past weekend and next Sunday.
With things so close between all three guys, the head to head matchups become even more important.
In a “what have you done for me lately” throw in of award, that stuff matters.
On Saturday, Jokic threw up a 31/6/11 and got the best of Giannis and the Bucks.
That same night, Embiid got outplayed by Bismack Biyombo and the Sixers were blown out.
The focus then shifted to tonight’s DEN/PHI matchup which you could argue is for all the marbles.
Well, entering tonight, the Sixers have lost 3 of 4.
If they lose tonight, that makes 4 of 5.
A skid not too different from what the Nuggets had.
That’s what makes tonight so interesting.
He was dominant in that win.
Well the same then has to be true tonight right?
You were favored at different points last season to win MVP, and it didnt happen.
Do you feel your MVP pursuit and potential victory is more organic this season?
It is coming naturally.
Or keep the 30-point streaks going or whatever.
But I dont care.
I think mentally Ive gotten to a different level where its all about winning.
What matters its just about winning, winning, winning.
Ive been focused on that.
Weve been doing that.
Whatever happens, happens.
If I win MVP, good.
If I dont, its fine with me.
The whole interview is really kind of crazy when you read the whole thing.
I dont care about the pressure that everybody puts on me.
All I care about is the pressure that I put on myself to win.
People have been talking about who has the most pressure to win.
People want to mention me.
Im not at the top of that list.
Im not a two-time MVP, Ive never made first team All-NBA, Ive never won anything.
I feel its hard to win in this league.
You got two great teams in Milwaukee and Boston in my conference.
So we have to play them at some point.
Those are two really good teams, and its going to be a fight to beat them.
Everybody has to show up.
I got to do my job.
James has got to do his job.
Tyrese (Maxey) has to show up.
Tobias (Harris).
The role players, the bench, we all have to come in and do our jobs.
For us to win, we have to be perfect, and its going to take everybody.
He legitimately doesn’t care.
Joel Embiid VERY much cares about the MVP, and that’s OK!
is also a pretty embarrassing look.
As someone who has never gotten out of the 2nd round?
Instead, he talks about Jokic.
I find that…weird.
Deep down, I think Embiid knows what we all know.
Tonight is going to go a LONG way in deciding how this race shakes up.
I imagine we’re going to see that approach from him right away.
If he had 47/18/5 in the first meeting, we may see him go for 60 tonight.
Whoever comes up with a statement performance and the statement win is going to have the leg up.
That’s how this works.
If that’s Embiid and the Sixers and then PHI finishes strong, the MVP will be his.
There’s no Tony Brothers or Scott Foster tonight in Denver.
Win this game, and the MVP may as well be yours to lose.
