NBA 2022/23, Saturday, 19.11.2022
The duel between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks promises to be a real basketball treat – even if some important key players will be absent on both sides.
Although it is not so easy to estimate who will make the race in the end, the fact that Joel Embiid will score less than 30 points in view of the circumstances is an immovable thesis of my present 76ers Bucks forecast.
Currently, Joel Embiid is being carried around on his hands again – both by his own fans in Philadelphia and by the NBA experts. Because what the Cameroonian has been showing on the floor lately borders on the supernatural.
Embiid’s performance last Monday against the Jazz was the seventh best individual performance by a player in the entire history of the NBA with 59 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists.
After such a strong performance, it is naturally tempting to believe that the exceptional player will have another monster performance. After all, the German bookmakers are advertising betting odds of 1.93 on the superstar’s next 30-point performance.
Happily, the internet does not forget – and so I would like to point the reader to a match not so long ago in which Joel Embiid was booed mercilessly by his own fans.
It was the second game of the season against the upcoming opponents, which Philadelphia lost 88-90. The Sixers will have to play those same Bucks again this Saturday morning.
Apart from the fact that Milwaukee is the second best NBA team in the Eastern Conference with a record of 11-3, the same means that made life difficult for Joel Embiid in the last meeting could also be used.
Joel Embiid had a dismal 15-point day against the Bucks last time out, but that was only the logical consequence of an absolute mismatch with the two green and white titans.
This of course refers to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez, who cleared everything at the basket and whose physicality has always been a thorn in the Sixers’ superstar’s side. The prerequisites for another gala evening for the 76ers’ centre are therefore not given.
The Green and Whites are missing two key players in Holiday and Middleton, but the Bucks’ defence is intact and strong enough to keep the Sixers, who are also shorthanded, in check.
Up to now I have only talked about Joel Embiid in connection with the Sixers. But their other superstar, James Harden, made the first meeting against Milwaukee less than a month ago exciting in the first place.
The problem is, however, that “The Beard” is now injured and thus cannot provide the necessary relief in the offensive game. Consequently, it should be much easier for the guests to fend off the 76ers’ attacks.
Joel Embiid will be on his own and will miss an important pillar in the build-up to the game. Isolated like this, I expect him to be buried under the massive bodies of the Bucks defenders once again.
Both franchises are also facing each other in the transfer market, by the way. For the Suns want to pass on their veteran Jae Crowder, who, however, has been targeted by both sides.
But back to the upcoming duel: The 76ers Bucks odds of the bookies make it clear that it will be a very close match – that much can be said already now.
Nevertheless, the best sports bookies are slightly favouring the home side with win odds averaging 1.70, while those for the Bucks are just above that figure.
Nevertheless, I won’t bother looking for a 1X2 favourite, because although I see the visitors with a slight advantage, a possible win bet would be a bit too tricky for me.
Summary: Joel Embiid left his calling card under the Jazz’s basket a few days ago – and what a calling card it was. It was, in fact, the seventh-best individual performance by an NBA player of all time.
Nevertheless, I don’t think the Cameroonian will be able to build on this success at the Wells Fargo Center.
The visitors are also shorthanded, but they have two strong defenders who caused the 76ers’ centre enormous problems in their first duel of the season.
Consequently, I expect a close duel as predicted by the bookmakers, but one in which Joel Embiid will not score 30 points.
