The Philadelphia 76ers' double overtime thriller against the Atlanta Hawks left a sour taste in their fans' mouths, but the team's star players Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe are already looking to put the heartbreak behind them.
In his post-game comments, Embiid expressed relief at finally returning from his injury hiatus, saying he felt "okay" after playing for over two weeks without action. Embiid praised teammate Tyrese Maxey, who played 52 minutes in the game despite being under heavy scrutiny, and acknowledged that it was a great step towards getting back on track. When asked about his biggest hurdle to returning from injury, Embiid stated that he had done some court work, but emphasized that if he felt ready to play, he would do so.
Embiid also touched upon the emotional aspect of missing out on the team's victories during his absence, stating that it was difficult not being able to be part of the game when they needed him most. He expressed frustration and disappointment at not being able to contribute to the wins, but reassured fans that he has worked hard to be ready for this moment.
When asked about how he has managed his mental preparation during his time off, Embiid stated that it was difficult, but emphasized the importance of keeping a positive mindset and focusing on what he can control. He concluded by saying that as long as he is doing the right things and putting in the work, he will be back to his MVP level soon.
Meanwhile, VJ Edgecombe expressed relief at finally being cleared to play after missing three games due to a calf injury. Edgecombe credited the medical staff for their efforts in getting him healthy again and praised his teammates for their fight in the fourth quarter despite his absence.
In a surprise move, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder praised Dominick Barlow for his impressive debut, saying that he has a great feel for the game, can pass, handle, and is smart about it. Barlow's strong showing against his former team earned him high praise from his new teammates, including Paul George, who described Barlow as "that Swiss Army knife" who does everything well.
The Sixers' coaching staff also took notice of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain's excitement to play with veteran coach Kyle Lowry. Nurse explained that he chose to bring in Lowry because he wanted to get down point guards and ball-handlers on the court, and it worked out okay for both teams.
Finally, the team received a scare when Andre Drummond suffered an injury during the game, but fortunately, his MRI came back clean, and he is not expected to be out of commission for long.
As the Sixers continue their grueling schedule, they will need all hands on deck if they hope to make a push for the playoffs.
In his post-game comments, Embiid expressed relief at finally returning from his injury hiatus, saying he felt "okay" after playing for over two weeks without action. Embiid praised teammate Tyrese Maxey, who played 52 minutes in the game despite being under heavy scrutiny, and acknowledged that it was a great step towards getting back on track. When asked about his biggest hurdle to returning from injury, Embiid stated that he had done some court work, but emphasized that if he felt ready to play, he would do so.
Embiid also touched upon the emotional aspect of missing out on the team's victories during his absence, stating that it was difficult not being able to be part of the game when they needed him most. He expressed frustration and disappointment at not being able to contribute to the wins, but reassured fans that he has worked hard to be ready for this moment.
When asked about how he has managed his mental preparation during his time off, Embiid stated that it was difficult, but emphasized the importance of keeping a positive mindset and focusing on what he can control. He concluded by saying that as long as he is doing the right things and putting in the work, he will be back to his MVP level soon.
Meanwhile, VJ Edgecombe expressed relief at finally being cleared to play after missing three games due to a calf injury. Edgecombe credited the medical staff for their efforts in getting him healthy again and praised his teammates for their fight in the fourth quarter despite his absence.
In a surprise move, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder praised Dominick Barlow for his impressive debut, saying that he has a great feel for the game, can pass, handle, and is smart about it. Barlow's strong showing against his former team earned him high praise from his new teammates, including Paul George, who described Barlow as "that Swiss Army knife" who does everything well.
The Sixers' coaching staff also took notice of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain's excitement to play with veteran coach Kyle Lowry. Nurse explained that he chose to bring in Lowry because he wanted to get down point guards and ball-handlers on the court, and it worked out okay for both teams.
Finally, the team received a scare when Andre Drummond suffered an injury during the game, but fortunately, his MRI came back clean, and he is not expected to be out of commission for long.
As the Sixers continue their grueling schedule, they will need all hands on deck if they hope to make a push for the playoffs.
, he's been through so much with that injury and now he's having to deal with the disappointment of losing games while he's not playing. But at the same time, you can't help but be impressed by his attitude and focus on getting back on track 
. I mean, the guy's been working hard in private and it shows when he steps onto that court. And VJ Edgecombe being cleared to play is a huge win for him too 
. As for the Hawks, Dominick Barlow is definitely someone to watch out for 
. He's got some serious skills on his hands 
️.
But he seems like a professional about it, acknowledging that the court work was part of the process, but also recognizing that if he feels ready, he'll jump right back in.
[gif: a cartoon basketball player with an injury, looking relieved]
Joel Embiid just wanted to play again already! 
52 minutes of Tyrese Maxey? 
And poor VJ Edgecombe just wanted to get back on the court ASAP! 
Joel Embiid felt okay after two weeks out? 
That's like saying I'm fine after binge-watching an entire season of Netflix. 
The Sixers need to come together and make some noise! 
And hey, at least Dominick Barlow is doing his thing... 
that Swiss Army knife, indeed!
... I think it's great that VJ Edgecombe is finally cleared to play tho! 
. Also, love Tyrese Maxey's spirit 
... and Dominick Barlow is like the ultimate Swiss Army knife 
, I mean who wouldn't want a player that good? 
.
and we're glad to have our star man back in the mix 
. We got our work cut out for us with this schedule 
, but I'm feelin confident about the squad 
. Let's go 76ers! 
That calf injury was a huge blow, but he's cleared and ready to go now.
. And have you seen those highlights of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain with Kyle Lowry? 
The coach knows what he's doing, I guess. But honestly, who needs all that excitement when we've got Andre Drummond worrying about getting hurt again? 
... the medical staff must have done some amazing work 
. And what's up with Dominick Barlow, right? He seems like a total game-changer 
he's like 'i'm good' but we all know he's still got a few screws loose. 
, i'm lowry fan now lol