Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways From Loss To Philadelphia 76ers
By Adam McGee
No Answers For The Process
The Milwaukee Bucks are lucky enough to have their own emerging superstar spearheading their charge towards future title contention, but on Monday afternoon they got their first real look at a player who could cause them considerable problems along that road in the East in the future.
Bucks fans didn’t need a reminder of the deficiencies of their center rotation, but with a display of true dominance, Joel Embiid provided one on MLK Day.
Still on a minutes restriction, as the 76ers continue to take care with their prized asset’s return from two years out with injury, Embiid was capped out at 28 minutes on this occasion. Still that was enough time for him to put up a monstrous stat line.
Embiid recorded 22 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks, two assists and two steals. Milwaukee’s center trio of Greg Monroe, John Henson and Miles Plumlee could only combine to match that 22 and 12 tally, in spite of playing 48 total minutes between them.
Embiid was able to get whatever looks he wanted at the rim, and perhaps even more importantly, he stifled not only Milwaukee’s bigs with his shot blocking, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker too.
He’s explosive, he’s powerful and he’s going to be a force for years to come.