PHILADELPHIA — Within the three seasons since Jimmy Butler joined the Miami Heat, the Philadelphia 76ers have been swept within the first spherical of the playoffs as soon as, and eradicated within the second spherical twice — in seven video games by the Atlanta Hawks final season, and most just lately by Butler’s Warmth in six video games. The sequence concluded with Miami’s 99-90 victory in Recreation 6 on Thursday night time.
With the win over the Sixers, the Warmth superior to their second Japanese Convention finals look in three years. They made all of it the way in which to the NBA Finals in 2020. The symbolism right here is fairly clear: Butler moved on to larger and higher issues, whereas the Sixers have remained caught within the proverbial mud, regardless of a number of roster makeovers.
Butler’s stellar play towards the Sixers needed to really feel like salt within the wound for the group. The multi-faceted ahead was downright dominant within the six-game sequence as he posted averages of 27.5 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists per efficiency. His play was so superior that it had Sixers All-Star middle Joel Embiid brazenly lamenting the lack of Butler as a teammate after the Warmth closed out the sequence on Thursday night time.
“I am completely happy for him. I will not sit right here and say I didn’t want he was my teammate,” Embiid stated of Butler. “I nonetheless do not understand how we let him go. However I want I might have gone to battle with him nonetheless. However it’s what it’s. Simply acquired to maintain constructing and hold making an attempt to succeed in that aim.
“Clearly that is my man, that is my brother,” Embiid added. “I imply, it is powerful. However I am so happy with him. He is taking part in at an unreal degree proper now. He is one thing else proper now. And I am happy with him for being at this degree and carrying them and what he is been capable of do.”
Clearly, the sensation of respect that Embiid has for Butler is mutual, as Butler had some excessive reward for Embiid after Recreation 6.
“I am happy with him,” Butler said of Embiid. “Sure, sure, sure, I nonetheless want I used to be on his group. I positively love the Miami Warmth, although, man. I am glad that I am right here. However I acquired a lot respect and love for Joel Embiid.”
Embiid and Butler performed collectively for lower than a full season in Philadelphia, however they clearly developed a particularly shut bond throughout that point — a bond that continues to at the present time. But whereas Embiid’s feedback have been meant to credit score a buddy, they may be interpreted as a refined shot at his personal group. The group that allowed Butler to relocate to Miami regardless of his burgeoning chemistry with Embiid, and the group that has did not construct a greater group round Embiid within the three years since then.
If Embiid was fully happy with Philadelphia’s roster as at the moment constructed, it is unlikely that he can be publicly pining for the times that he wore the identical uniform as Butler. However, given the way in which that the Sixers carried out within the postseason, Embiid should not be happy with the established order.
The group’s depth clearly must be improved. Plus, the Sixers have but to discover a secondary go-to man as dependable as Butler. Possibly Tyrese Maxey will develop into that participant sooner or later, however he is not there but. James Harden was speculated to be Embiid’s co-star, however his lack of aggression within the postseason was alarming, and never indicative of a participant who you wish to construct round long-term. At this level, Harden could also be a famous person in title solely.
Talking of Harden, this is what Embiid needed to say about him following Recreation 6: “Clearly, I am positive since we acquired him, all people anticipated him to be ‘Houston’ James Harden, however that is not who he’s anymore. He is extra of a playmaker. I assumed, at instances, as with all of us, [he] might’ve been extra aggressive.”
That is not essentially a ringing endorsement, particularly when contrasted to his feedback about Butler. Although he would by no means acknowledge it publicly, it appears fairly clear that Embiid would favor to have Butler to enter battle with, versus Harden, and with the way in which that they each carried out within the sequence, it could be powerful to disagree.
