Sixers

Morning Wood: Historically Good

By Kyle Scott

Published: Nov 16th, 2017 · 9:48 AM EST

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Welcome to the moment. That’s the Sixers’ slogan, right?

Last night was the moment we were all waiting for. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons entered the Staples Center for the second game in a row, penetrated the paint, scored at will, and didn’t even bother buying Lonzo Ball breakfast when they were done.

Let’s skip the pleasantries and get right down to the raw, hard facts: Joel Embiid put up 46 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 blocks, and shot 14-20 from the field, 2-3 from three, and 16-19 at the line. Those are transcendent numbers. What was that about his aggression and conditioning again? I couldn’t hear you through the visceral yells emanating from the courtside seats in LA.

Embiid is the first player ever to put up 46, 15, 7 and 7 in a game, and he’s the first player since Dr. J in 1982 to put up over 40 points, 7 assists and 7 blocks.

But that’s not enough. Embiid is eyeing a quadruple-double, and he knows who might be able to help him with that:

Sixers’ Joel Embiid on his 46P/15R/7A/7B effort: “I wish I could have had the quadruple-double with blocks. Shout out Hassan Whiteside.” pic.twitter.com/9mOzxnoNZJ

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) November 16, 2017

Good God the humanity.

I’m not even sure where to go next, so here are the highlights so you can get yourself lubed up for the rest:

There we go.

How good was Embiid? Apparently not as great as he can be. If you had to put a number on it…

Joel Embiid told our @MollySullivanTV that he's only playing at about 69% of what he's capable. pic.twitter.com/LBw84Qe48W

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) November 16, 2017

Embiid is at 69%. More on Kevin Hart in a moment.

Are there more stats? You bet! Philly guy Kevin Negandhi has got you covered:

Some @ESPNStatsInfo on @JoelEmbiid career night:
-13 pts off post-up shots, more than every other player in the game combined
–@sixers were 7-of-8 for 17 pts off his passes
-5 blocks in 3rd qtr, tied for most by any player this season
-5 blocks came as a help defender

— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) November 16, 2017

Are they lacking context? Sure. But who cares! Right about now you could tell me that Embiid was the first 7’0 player to score 46 and drop a 69 reference while making Lonzo Ball and the Lakers his bitch and I’d believe you. But that just sounds like a cherry-picked stat.

Let’s Wood!

 

Lolnzo Ball

Ben Simmons goes right through Lonzo Ball for the dunk pic.twitter.com/AjIuXUqk3i

— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) November 16, 2017

Rough night for the balls. Just worn down and chafed for the entire game, with an epic blow-by to the cup. Ball finished with 2 points, 2 assists and 5 rebounds on 1-9 shooting.

https://twitter.com/CFJastrzembski/status/931015383611473920

The good news is that he won the battle with Markelle Fultz:

Lonzo outscored Fultz by 2 tonight

— Adam Lefkoe (@AdamLefkoe) November 16, 2017

Against Embiid and Simmons, however, it was a different story. Gonna be a long run home to daddy in Lavar Fars Iran:

The amount of shade being thrown by that post would could envelop our planet and solve global warming.

 

Ben Simmons

Lost in Joel Embiid’s domination is the fact the Ben Simmons was one rebound away from a triple-double. He put up 18, 9 and 10, which is quickly becoming the norm. I think we’ve reached the point where we’re disappointed when he doesn’t put up a triple-double.

 

NBA 2K18

https://twitter.com/NBA2K/status/931135045670117378

Embiid geting the 2K treatment.

 

Generational footwork

Generational footwork. Not a hyperbole. https://t.co/k0arJFfuUf

— Jake Hyman (@JakeHymanTTP) November 16, 2017

That little shimmy at the end turned me on a little bit. A lot a bit, actually.

 

Luke, I am your father

Luke Walton said this about Joel Embiid practically with a sigh: "He's a problem."

— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) November 16, 2017

I wasn’t sure if that was an exaggeration, but the video of Walton talking about Embiid is even better:

https://youtu.be/pzr87AO9mCc

 

Photos

The images coming out of this game are just outstanding. Gander:

all photos credit Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

 

Kevin Hart

It's now my life's ambition to watch a Sixers game with @KevinHart4real. #HereTheyCome

— Mid Major (Group of 5) Matt (@MidMajorMatt) November 16, 2017

Poor M Night. With the entire city and team owners supporting Meek Mill, and now Kevin Hart making his presence known at both games in LA, it has been a rough go for the local director. Hart may have wrangled away the number two spot with his post-game bro moves.

 

Collars

I actually wrote about the old guy in the cowboy hat the other day. Didn’t expect to see him at a Sixers game so soon.

 

Throwdown attempt

KUZMA ALMOST PROCESSED THE PROCESS

(check out embiid's smile at the end) pic.twitter.com/IH9P9wsNn5

— nbaayy (@nbaayy) November 16, 2017

Mad respect here to Kuzma. Embiid acknowledges all attempts to challenge the alpha male.

 

Facts

Joel Embiid makes history with first 46-point, 15-rebound, 7-assist, 7-block game in NBA history.

He has highest scoring performance by a Sixer since Allen Iverson's 46 pts on 11/24/06 vs. CHI.

It's the 3rd-highest scoring game in NBA this season.
(@bball_ref) pic.twitter.com/co3iXECb9q

— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) November 16, 2017

As for the Sixers, I haven’t been this excited about a young duo since Shaq & Penny. Both Simmons & Embiid can be all-time greats (yeah, I said it!) & their games complement one another’s perfectly.

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) November 16, 2017

How rare was @JoelEmbiid line vs the Lakers?

Since the NBA started recording blocked shots in 1973, only one other player has scored at least 40 pts w at least 15 reb, 7 blocks and 7a — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and he did it in a four-overtime game.

— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) November 16, 2017

 

The First Joel

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