Joel Embiid made it clear that there isn’t any Celtics dynasty.
And, in his thoughts, there gained’t be one.
Embiid was a visitor on “NBA Countdown” on ESPN throughout Sport 4 of the NBA Finals in Dallas, and when the 76ers star was requested concerning the Celtics and whether or not the staff — who led the sequence 3-0 in opposition to the Mavericks going into Friday night time — has a dynasty going.
He was having none of it.
“You gotta perceive the entire East was sort of damage this 12 months — myself included,” Embiid mentioned after explaining that the collective bargaining settlement may additionally damage Boston.
The query, on its face, was truthful, because the Celtics have reached the Jap Convention finals three seasons in a row, and so they’ve made the NBA Finals this 12 months and in 2022.
However for the 2023 NBA MVP, he considered the Celtics’ run to the Finals this 12 months as a fairytale.
Embiid, as he alluded to on ESPN, battled accidents this 12 months, enjoying in a mere 39 regular-season video games.
He had surgical procedure for a torn meniscus in February that saved him out for about two months.
And regardless of returning for a first-round playoff sequence in opposition to the Knicks, Emiid was not fully himself.
Through the sequence loss, it was revealed that he had additionally been handled for a gentle case of Bell’s palsy.
“They [the Celtics] know I’m proper there,” Embiid mentioned relating to his lack of availability this 12 months.
Apart from Embiid not being at his finest come the playoffs, the Celtics confronted a Warmth staff within the first spherical with out their go-to man Jimmy Butler, who was additionally out with an harm.
In 2023, Butler confirmed he may wreak havoc on the ground, as throughout these playoffs, he despatched the Celtics residence whereas being named the Jap Convention Finals MVP.
Within the second spherical of the playoffs, the Celtics performed a Cavaliers staff with out Donovan Mitchell for 2 video games.
The Pacers additionally missed their star, Tyrese Haliburton, for 2 video games within the Jap Convention Finals because the Celtics cruised within the sequence.
When requested if he was prepared to come back on the Celtics — and the Jap Convention — subsequent 12 months, Embiid had a brief reply.
“There’s a fairly good likelihood,” he mentioned.
