Joel Embiid, the Sixers’ big man and one of their two best players, had some harsh words for his team in a recent interview.
“It’s frustrating because I feel like we’re not playing as well as we should be,” Embiid told reporters. “We’re not living up to our potential.”
Embiid is averaging 22.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, but the Sixers are just 19-20 and have lost four in a row. They’re currently the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. “It’s disappointing,” Embiid said of the team’s play. “I feel like we’re way better than our record shows.”
The Sixers have struggled on both ends of the court this season, but their offense has been particularly bad. They’re scoring just 102.1 points per 100 possessions, which is 23rd in the NBA. “We’ve got to figure out a way to score the ball,” Embiid said. “We’re not playing well offensively. We’re not making shots, we’re turning the ball over.”
Embiid also had some criticism for head coach Brett Brown. “I think our coach is doing a great job, but I think he’s got to find a way to put us in better situations,” Embiid said. “We’re not playing well together offensively.”
The Sixers have been a disappointment this season, but they still have time to turn things around. They have the talent to be a good team, and if they can figure out how to play better together, they could make a run at the playoffs. Joel Embiid’s comments just show that they have a long way to go.