One key criticism of Joel Embiid’s career is his failure to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. The Philadelphia 76ers always seem to run into tough opponents that prevent them from making it far in the playoffs. In 2019, they were heartbroken by Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beater for the Toronto Raptors, leaving Embiid in tears alongside teammates Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons. Now, it appears that Embiid is directing his frustration towards the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics.
Embiid has had several opportunities to face the Celtics in the playoffs, most notably in 2023 when the 76ers had a chance to eliminate Tatum’s team. Despite being up 3-2 in the series, the 76ers faltered and were eliminated, as the Celtics went on to add talent like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to their roster. Embiid seems fed up with the comparisons between him and Tatum, as he joked on a recent podcast appearance with friends.
“I tell him, if I had a super team like he does, I’d win all the time,” Embiid quipped, addressing the criticism he receives about Tatum’s success.
Despite the setbacks, Embiid has performed well against the Celtics, averaging 27.6 points and 11.8 rebounds in 24 career matchups. He has proven to be a force to be reckoned with on the court, even against strong competition like Porzingis and Horford. As the rivalry between Embiid and Tatum intensifies, it will be interesting to see how their performances continue to shape the narrative in the NBA.
While the statistics may be impressive, they do not always result in victories. Embiid has only managed to lead the 76ers to three postseason wins against the Celtics, leaving them with a whopping 12 losses against the Tatum-led team.
The rivalry between these two teams is sure to intensify in the future, especially now that Embiid has the support of Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. On the other side, the Celtics are keeping their core intact in hopes of securing their 19th championship banner.
But before they face off again, there will be a temporary peace between the teams until mid-August. Embiid will even have the chance to play alongside Holiday, White, and Tatum in the 2024 Paris Olympics, giving him the opportunity to analyze their tactics and strategize for future matchups against the Celtics led by Brad Stevens.
