Joel Embiid tried once again to fight through a virus that has hindered his play in at least the last two games of the Sixers’ series against the Toronto Raptors.
And for a second straight game he was a shell of himself, as he finished with just 13 points in the Sixers’ 36-point loss to the Raptors. 36 points!
The Sixers center was seen slowly walking into the arena before the game, obviously feeling the effects of a virus that had him locked in his hotel room for most of the day.
It wasn’t the type of energy that would inspire his teammates to play hard in Game 5. And it wasn’t the type of energy that came even close to impressing Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, who crushed him during halftime on TNT.
Shaq went in on how he didn’t want to hear excuses and if Embiid wants to be known for more than just “The Process” then he has to lay everything on the line no matter how he’s feeling.
Barkley, meanwhile, said as a star player you can never show weakness and Embiid has done just this by how he carried himself before the game and how he has talked about his illness the past few days:
They had more after the game, with Shaq saying the Sixers will lose Game 6 at home and mentioned how Barkley said the Sixers don’t have a leader:
Not a good night for Embiid and the Sixers.
