'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Philadelphia 76ers enjoyed a great regular season, finishing 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a 51-31 record and had strengthened themselves with the trade acquisition signings of top players in Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler, making their case for an Eastern Conference Finals appearance even stronger.
They managed to beat the Brooklyn Nets relatively comfortably in 5 games and faced a daunting series against the 2nd seed Toronto Raptors, which lasted 7 games and finally came down to a buzzer-beating shot in Game 7 to dump them out of the postseason.
All in all, their season might be viewed as a success by those who realised that by just putting star players together one does not make a winning team, that requires chemistry as well. While others, who view this season as a failure, have a claim that a team with probably the strongest starting 5 in the NBA, could not even reach the Conference Finals.
Yet, there were a lot of instances where they had everyone chanting in their support and could do no wrong. Here are the 3 best individual performances from the 2018-19 NBA season:
#3 Joel Embiid against the Charlotte Hornets in Wells Fargo Center
Joel Embiid is the cornerstone and probably the franchise player for the Philadelphia 76ers. They look to build around him as their #1 star and have done so with some great draft picks like Ben Simmons and trade deals for players like Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris.
Embiid was drafted #3 in the 2014 NBA draft and was poised to be one of the best players in the NBA. Injuries did not allow him to play in his rookie year and even prematurely ended his 2015-16 season. Yet, he has only come back stronger and with even more hunger for success.
Joel Embiid was a man on a mission against the Charlotte Hornets at Wells Fargo Arena, taking the game to the Hornets, winning in overtime, 133-132, in a game where the Hornets managed to come back and then forced the Sixers into taking the game into overtime.
He had a mammoth game, scoring 42 points in just 39 minutes, grabbing 18 rebounds, 4 assists and a huge 4 blocks on the defensive end of the floor. He shot 61% from the field, scoring 16 points in the 4th quarter, leading the Sixers to a big win.
Final stat line: 42 points, 11-18 FG, 1-2 3FG, 19-22 FT, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks and 3 TOs in 39 minutes in a 133-132 OT win over the Charlotte Hornets
#2 Jimmy Butler against Toronto Raptors in Game 6 of Eastern Conference Semifinals
Jimmy Butler has been one of the most entertaining and hardworking players in the NBA, ever since he was picked in the 2011 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. Drafted at #30, the rise of Jimmy Butler, from a role player to a superstar, has been one to inspire everyone.
He joined the Philadelphia 76ers after being traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves for Dario Saric and Robert Covington and became a solid 2-way player for the Philadelphia 76ers, pulling them from the jaws of defeat right when it mattered.
Thus, it was just a matter of time before Butler stepped up for the 76ers in the do or die Game 6 against the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
With everyone else taking a backseat in one of the most important games for the franchise in recent history, Butler calmly led the 76ers to a solid win and forced a Game 7 when nobody thought they could, winning 112-101.
He was an enigma on the court, leading the Sixers by scoring a solid 25 points, shooting 50% from the field. He also grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 8 assists, had 2 steals and just 2 turnovers in 35 minutes of action.
He was amazing for the Sixers throughout the season and they should be looking to keep him for the foreseeable future and giving the postseason another go.
Final stat line: 25 points, 9-18 FG, 7-7 FT, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 2 TOs in 35 minutes in a 112-101 win against the Toronto Raptors.
#1 Joel Embiid against Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of Eastern Conference Semifinals
Probably his finest game and one of his most important ones for the 76ers, Joel Embiid was at his very best against the Toronto Raptors in the Wells Fargo Arena in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The series may have ended in the favour of the Toronto Raptors 4-3, courtesy of a Game 7 buzzer-beater, but this game was all about the 76ers and the player leading them from the front, Joel Embiid.
Embiid was a force to be reckoned with, single-handedly taking down the Raptors team, scoring 33 points in just 28 minutes, shooting 50% from the field and going to the line 13 times. He even shot 75% from beyond the 3, which is just absurd.
He grabbed 10 rebounds in this game, getting himself another double-double and had 3 assists, along with a huge 5 blocks, defending the paint very well. The 3 turnovers were the only stain on an otherwise perfect performance from the big man.
With the 2019-20 season on the horizon for the 76ers, Embiid and his roster must look to the free agency and their chance to mount another solid run to the NBA finals, having the goal of winning it with the amount of talent at their disposal.
Final stat line: 33 points, 9-18 FG, 3-4 3FG, 12-13 FT, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 blocks and 3 TOs in 28 minutes against the Toronto Raptors in a 116-95 win.
Guess the Lakers players!
