Joel: “The longer I sit, the shorter stints, you can’t get into a rhythm, you play 2-3 minutes and you gotta get out… Longer stints you can let the game come to you, but means you might be done by half time. Being in shape is one thing, but basketball shape is another, you need to play”

19 comments

1. I saw people respond to this negatively, but he’s been consistent with this for a while. Doc and Nurse had Joel playing very long stints in the rotations (usually almost all of Q1 and Q3, with 6 minutes to close Q2 and Q4) because it was Joel’s preference

   I get that it’s probably not fun being on the bench in the 4th quarter of tight games, but better to go slow than overexert

2. Bro is absolutely correct but when you weight it against his obvious historical and physical limitations, what can you do about it as an organization?

3. He’s close to end. Like Bill Walton’s final years

   

4. I think it’s time to transition from him being the main focus on the offense and let the back court do that now. I hate to see him hoisting 3s when he could be under the basket grabbing rebounds and kicking out.

5. Just need him as healthy as possible in the playoffs. Then go all out.

6. He needs to stick with it. He’s probably a little overeager to play, and I get it. He’s the best player on the face of the planet when healthy and can go 40 minutes.

   But he’s not healthy. Not right now. He’s just gotta, well, for lack of a better term, trust the process. I have faith that this current 20-minute restriction will help with his ramp up. And he’s a generational talent. He’ll adjust.

   I got faith in you, Jo. I have firm reason to believe the organization does too. But slow and steady wins the race.

7. Joel is a star. Easiest guy to root for in my entire life as a Philly fan 

8. how many times must a man do the same thing before he learns? wemby does stretches and exercises to maximize flexibility and goes to study with monks at 21. Joel is 31 and seems to be as incurious and stubborn as he ever was. it’s not that something different would guarantee results. But why not fucking try? Once? One time. I don’t understand the commitment to ideology that hasn’t yielded success.

9. We finally have a team built properly around Jo and we don’t have Jo.

10. If he plays 20 of the first 24 minutes, I think he’s good to go..

11. Him complaining about minute retriction but he cant stay healthy. Hes not defending anyone and doesnt jump for rebounds or blocks. Everytime he falls hes grabbing at his knees. The minute restriction is needed and he will just have to work through it .

12. Crazy thing is he is still an elite scorer even with a bad knee, lol. The dude dropped 20 barely, even trying tbh

13. Jo needs to be patient and trust this staff. What’s more important than playing 25-30 minutes a night right now is how his knee responds the following day. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see Joel playing 30+ minutes a night till after the all star break. Hopefully the big man can keep getting stronger and not have any setbacks.

14. Embiid needs to be a complementary player at this point in the season. If we can get him to the playoffs anything close to healthy, he will be needed to play more at that point.

15. He needs to cut out the reckless drives from the 3pt line. They don’t even end in those sick dunks anymore. People just cut him off and he runs into them and falls, he got his leg bent backwards after one last night. Got a couple trips to the line too but the playoffs just stop calling those fouls

16. Knee must be feeling really good

17. Honestly, I don’t hate Jo saying this. I hate the load management element of the modern NBA. I love that Jo wants to be out there even for trivial games. Dude is a competitor.

18. Kinda annoyed at this statement. Wasn’t he annoyed that the team was rushing him back? I don’t think he knows how he wants to be managed.

19. Click bait haters deserve no attention. If Jo is healthy when we really need him.. look out. No fan of any other team wants that. There are those that talk trash and those that actually watch the games. I love the guy and always will. Why are even discussing this nonsense?