In Game 1 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, Sixers star Joel Embiid didn’t have his biggest statistical game. For the All-Star center and apparent NBA MVP frontrunner who averages over 33 points and 10 rebounds on nearly 55% shooting, Saturday’s 26 points (46.7% FG) and 5 rebounds were somewhat pedestrian, by comparison.
Then again, there was a good reason for that. Brooklyn trapped and double teamed Embiid all over the court, effectively daring other players to beat them out of resulting four-on-three situations. That’s exactly what the rest of the Sixers did, making 21-of-43 from 3-point range (48.8%) in a dominant 20-point home victory (recap).
One rival player who took notice was Houston Rockets rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr., the No. 3 overall draft pick from the 2022 first round. Here’s what the 19-year-old Auburn product tweeted:
He is the MVP. THEY TRAPPING EVERY TIME HE TOUCHES THE BALLLL! let’s be real y’all
He is the MVP. THEY TRAPPING EVERY TIME HE TOUCHES THE BALLLL! 😂😂😂let’s be real y’all
— Jabari Smith Jr (@jabarismithjr) April 15, 2023
Interestingly enough, Smith and the rebuilding Rockets (22-60) picked up a home win versus each of the league’s three MVP finalists — Embiid, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo — at during the 2022-23 season. It’s something that could be a building block for Houston entering a key offseason.
