PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid wrapped close friend Jimmy Butler into a hug near the 76ers’ bench before walking off the court late Thursday, the physical representation of one All-Star and his team moving on to the Eastern Conference finals and the other again falling short of the ultimate goal.
When Embiid emerged from the Sixers’ locker room about 90 minutes after their 99-90 season-ending loss to the Miami Heat, he said his team was not good enough to beat the Eastern Conference’s top seed in a best-of-seven series. Though Embiid emphasized and re-emphasized that he is not a front office roster-builder, he revealed that he believed the Sixers needed to get physically tougher. And though Embiid would not dwell on his unfortunately timed injuries, he acknowledged “it sucks” that his fabulous, MVP-caliber and previously healthy 2021-22 season ended like this.
“I’m not looking for any excuses, but those are just the facts,” Embiid said of his orbital fracture and torn thumb ligament. “It sucks. I don’t think anybody would believe that I was 100 percent, so it does suck to get to this stage and not be yourself, not being able to do what you want and your body not allowing you to just be yourself. …
