Detroit Pistons: Worst potential playoff matchups for 2019
By Amaar Burton
2. Philadelphia 76ers
On social media, the rivalry between Sixers center Joel Embiid and Detroit’s Andre Drummond is one of the league’s most entertaining.
On the court, it’s insanely lopsided for two players that are established All-Stars.
In five games against each other, Embiid has a 4-1 advantage in the win column. Embiid has averaged 30.0 points and 11.2 rebounds per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the field. Drummond has averaged 12.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while shooting 41.5 percent.
Joel Embiid Calls Andre Drummond a Bum, Says He Owns Him and Will Continue to Keep Punking Him On and Off the Court and Then Clowns Drummond's Dancing in His IG Story (Tweets-Vids) https://t.co/b0ju0wnCfe pic.twitter.com/UqXLOo3e5A
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) November 4, 2018
Granted, Embiid is the focal point of Philly’s offense while Drummond is essentially a defensive and rebounding specialist who rarely has plays run for him, but still. Embiid isn’t wrong when he says he is in Drummond’s head.
In addition to The Process giving Detroit problems, Philadelphia has shooters such as J.J. Redick (a serious Sixth Man of the Year contender) and Robert Covington, not to mention point guard Ben Simmons, who is one of the best passers and drivers in the game.
The Sixers are off to a slower start than expected at 6-5, but they’re still widely considered one of the three best teams in the East and a serious contender to make the NBA Finals.