The Phantom of the Process is back for the Philadelphia 76ers.
After dropping the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Philadelphia 76ers got a huge boost from the return of center Joel Embiid, who had missed more than a week with a facial injury and a concussion.
When asked if there was a moment when he thought he wouldn't return to the series, he said no.
I just thought about what I was going to do to make sure that I was back at any point in the series. I was doing everything I could to come back.
After being hit in the face with an elbow by Raptors forward Pascal Siakam in Philadelphia's victory over Toronto in the first round of the playoffs last week, the 76ers center spent the past several days dealing with the effects of his concussion.
He was cleared from the concussion protocols by the league on Thursday, but he needed to work out on Thursday before he knew if he would be able to play.
After taking the court for his usual workout about 45 minutes before tip, he was announced as part of the starting lineup, even though he had to wear a mask.
James Harden, who had 17 points and six assists in 38 minutes, said it was difficult.
It was game time. It was the winner. The playoffs are on. He delivered, because he knew how much we needed him. His dominance on both ends of the ball is very important to this team.
That is why he is the most valuable player and we have to keep pushing.
Before the game, 76ers coach Doc Rivers said he wasn't sure if Embiid would be limited in his minutes because of the lack of conditioning time he'd been able to have.
In the end, though, Embiid was able to play 36 minutes -- including the first 15 minutes of the second half, after some lobbying of Rivers to keep him in to start the fourth quarter, after Miami had cut Philadelphia's lead down to 3.
After the game, he admitted that he was struggling with his conditioning all game long, and said that he would be much better when things resume here Sunday night.
I didn't think I had a lot of energy.
I feel like my presence is felt on the defensive and that is one of the main reasons why I thought I could have a huge impact.
The 76ers were demolished in the first and second games by Adebayo, who was unable to help. In the third game of the series, Adebayo, who had averaged over twenty points and ten boards in the first two games of the series, finished with nine points, three rebound and one assist, while picking up five fouls in 33 minutes.
The Heat coach said that he made a big impact. He is an award-winning player. He is in the running for defensive player of the year. You need to be very intentional on both ends.
We are not expecting it to be easy. They were a very good team all year. He was supposed to be available all series. We will have to figure it out.
He addressed the play where he suffered the injury for the first time because he didn't speak to the media after Game 6. He didn't believe that the person who hit him with the elbow wasn't trying to hurt him.
He gave a very long, thoughtful answer on the interactions between fans and players in the NBA, including hearing "F---" chants throughout the series and how the fans reacted after he was struck in the face.
I don't think it was intentional. It is unfortunate. I don't think he intended to do it. I was more annoyed by the perception of the fans than I was by the actual fans. Throughout the series, the chants and all that stuff. That is cool.
It doesn't get to me anyways. I think they got mad because I did the airplane celebration, but it has been happening in a few arenas where the fans feel like it is okay to say "F---" to someone. If you respond to it, the league fines you, so I don't think that should be okay.
It doesn't bother me. I am speaking for everyone in the NBA. You have to be able to take it if you give it. When our fans boo, I have said it before. You have to be able to take it if the players go back.
The presence of Embiid was too much for the Heat to take in Game 3, even with the return of Kyle Lowry. After missing the past four games due to his own injury, Lowry played 25 minutes in his hometown on Friday, missing all four shots he took and going without an assist.
I had a good day of working out. I didn't think I'd be amazing tonight. I wanted to be out there with my group in this hostile situation, so I didn't expect to have zero points, but just try to get a feel for the game.
We have to bounce back and get ready for the next game.
He had a similar message for his team.
He said that they were down 2-1 and had a long way to go.
We cannot go down 3-1. We really need this game on Sunday.
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