Joel Embiid reflects on his game leading up to playoffs - "We are getting to the point in the season where you have to be on point"
Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid has been on an absolute tear as of late. While speaking about his performance against the Washington Wizards, Embiid shared his thoughts on how the 76ers should proceed with the remainder of the season.
Joel Embiid has continued to be an offensive juggernaut this season. After winning the scoring title last season, the 76ers superstar finds himself in a similar position this season. However, Philadelphia have also been a much more successful side thus far.
The pairing of Embiid and James Harden could be the reason for this. The 76ers duo certainly delivered against the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
In Philadelphia's 112-93 win, Harden notched an impressive double-double of 18 points and 14 assists. Meanwhile, Embiid took care of business with 34 points and eight rebounds of his own.
Embiid's consistent streak of high-scoring has seen him average roughly 37 points in the last six games. The big man addressed this following the win against the Wizards. He said:
"I’m healthy. That helps a lot. And we are getting to the point in the season where you have to be on point. We have to come through everyday, offensively and defensively."
Embiid also spoke about what adjustments had to be made ahead of the playoffs. When speaking about himself in particular, he said:
"In the past, my defense from the regular-season to the playoffs has always gone to another level. It's all about trying to build it.
"Like I always say, I'm just working on my game. I'm just seeing what works and what doesn't and we need that intensity defensively. It's not just about me."
Embiid's expectations of himself and his team are quite evident. As the Philadelphia 76ers rise to 45-22 on the season, they appear to be legitimate contenders in the East.
Sitting on a five-game winning streak as well, the 76ers appear to be peaking at just the right time.
Joel Embiid solidifies his claim in the MVP race
The MVP race appears to be virtually similar to what it was last season. With a three-way tie between three of the best big men in the league, Joel Embiid appears to be in hot pursuit for the award this season.
Read: Exclusive: Joel Embiid "may have been lobbying for the MVP," says NBA insider
Embiid lost out on the award to Nikola Jokic last season by a relatively narrow margin. This season appears to be more neck-and-neck at this juncture. Particularly while factoring in Embiid's recent string of performances.
In the month of March, Embiid is yet to have a game where he has scored less than 30 points. His lowest scoring game was 31, which resulted in a win for Philadelphia.
With back-to-back 39 point games and a 40+ point outing in the mix, Embiid appears to be virtually unstoppable. While also considering the incredible efficiency with which he scores, the 76ers big man is just a scoring machine.
To top it off, the superstar's performances have also resulted in wins for Philly. Looking to make a strong impact in the playoffs, Embiid expects to turn things up a notch soon.