{"id":88840,"date":"2024-08-04T12:07:11","date_gmt":"2024-08-04T16:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=88840"},"modified":"2024-08-04T12:07:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-04T16:07:11","slug":"paris-olympics-sixers-joel-embiid-coming-alive-at-right-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/04\/paris-olympics-sixers-joel-embiid-coming-alive-at-right-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Paris Olympics: Sixers Centerpiece Coming Alive At Right Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Philadelphia 76ers centerpiece Joel Embiid<\/a> hasn\u2019t had a warm welcome in any game he\u2019s played in during the Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n

The reason is unquestioned. Embiid lobbied for French citizenship just to join them for the Olympics. However, conflicted by France\u2019s history with Cameroon<\/a> and bothered by the national team\u2019s pushiness, he joined Team USA instead. The familiarity that he has with a team full of NBA players also factored into his decision.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, despite the rationality of him joining Team USA, French fans haven\u2019t taken kindly to it. It doesn\u2019t help that their country is hosting the Olympics this year.<\/p>\n

Addressing the cold reception, Embiid says that he\u2019s \u201calways loved it<\/a>\u201d (per Eurohoops\u2019 Aris Barkas).<\/p>\n

Sixers Centerpiece Coming Alive At Right Time<\/h2>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, I think a lot of people think it\u2019s hate,\u201d Embiid continues. \u201cI see it as love and respect. If I wasn\u2019t an OK basketball player, I would not receive that type of treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I see myself as being blessed, and that\u2019s why I interact with them\u2026\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Embiid has a point here, as many of the jeers are directed at him because of his stature in the NBA. Whether he really thinks it\u2019s all love is in question. Last month, the outspoken big man claimed to be the most hated player<\/a> in the league. However, surrounded by supportive teammates<\/a>, recent conversations may have spurred a change in his outlook.<\/p>\n

What can be sure is that boos aren\u2019t new to Embiid.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026I\u2019ve seen worse,\u201d he contends. \u201cI\u2019ve played in worse environments. Both Gardens (Madison Square Garden and TD Garden). So it\u2019s nothing that I haven\u2019t seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all because they want to push you… Just like with this crowd. I enjoy it because it makes me want to be better and do more and do whatever it takes to win.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Even the notoriously tough Sixers fans have also let him hear it.\u201cThey boo their own guys, more than their opponents,\u201d cuts the big man.<\/p>\n

Turning A Frown Upside Down<\/h3>\n

Embiid\u2019s up and down performance with Team USA may be impacted, in part, by a rain of boos every time he touches the ball. The pressure truly isn\u2019t entirely negative though.<\/p>\n

Against Puerto Rico, the two-time scoring champion came alive when Davon Reed<\/a> extended his legs over after a putback dump in the first quarter. Going back down the court, he hit hunted someone to post up and scored easily. It was his first basket of the night. When Jose Alvarado<\/a> attempted to get a shot over him at the other end, he swatted it away emphatically.<\/p>\n

In the second quarter, Embiid turned away a dunk attempt from Ismael Romero. An impressed LeBron James<\/a> rewarded him with a flashy dime inside. By the end of the half, the big man had clearly finally caught his rhythm in Paris.<\/p>\n

\n

JOEL EMBIID WHAT A BLOCK pic.twitter.com\/I22hN9lhxo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 J\ud83d\udc10 (@SixersJustin) August 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n