NEW YORK — The Nets are eagerly awaiting word from the NBA’s league office on additional enforcement actions against 76ers star Joel Embiid.
Embiid, the presumptive league Most Valuable Player, flailed his legs up into starting center Nic Claxton’s groin area in the first quarter of the Nets’ Game 3 loss to the Sixers on Thursday. The moment was retaliation from Embiid after Claxton stuffed a one-handed alley-oop over him, then stepped over the Sixers’ star big man a la Allen Iverson over Tyronn Lue.
Officials assessed Claxton a technical foul and issued Embiid a flagrant foul penalty one. It got the Nets two free throws and possession of the ball, but the Nets felt Embiid should have been ejected from the game for his actions.
“Oh, I know my stance hasn’t changed,” Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said after Friday’s practice, just hours after he expressed frustration postgame with the decision not to eject Embiid. “It is the same as yesterday, my man, and I am looking forward to hearing the league’s response.”
Nets starter Cam Johnson said he expected Embiid to be ejected after the situation with Warriors star Draymond Green.
Green stomped on Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis in Game 2 of their playoff series after Sabonis appeared to grab Green by the foot. Green was immediately ejected from the game — and the NBA subsequently suspended him for Game 3 in large part due to his history of unsportsmanlike conduct.
“I just don’t really get it. I thought precedent was set just a day or so ago,” Johnson said at Friday’s practice. “So honestly, I don’t even want to get into it because I don’t know what I can say and what I can’t say. But I thought that was a surefire [ejection].”
NBA referee Tony Brothers, the officiating crew chief for Thursday night’s game, said in the pool report Embiid was assessed a flagrant one because the contact “did not rise to the level of excessive,” and that “the point of contact dictated that it was only unnecessary contact and not excessive.”
The same officiating crew also ejected James Harden at the end of the third quarter for a shot to Royce O’Neale’s groin. The Nets felt Embiid’s contact was more excessive. Several players on both teams felt the decision to toss Harden was a make-up call for not ejecting Embiid in the first quarter, including Dorian Finney-Smith, who reiterated that sentiment after Friday’s practice.
Johnson said he thought Embiid’s flail qualified as a flagrant foul two.
“I thought that was like literally almost excessive and unnatural and not basketball,” Johnson said. “I thought it hit all those, but I guess they saw it differently.”
The NBA is reviewing Embiid’s play to determine whether or not any additional action should be taken. Johnson said Embiid or not, the Nets still have to get ready to prepare as if the star big man will be available.
“But we’re not going to rely on somebody getting kicked out of a game. You know, that’s not the way, that’s not how we want these to go,” Johnson said. “We’re going to play against whoever they put out there and we’re not going to ask for anything extra. And in that sense, that’s not our call and that’s not our concern.”
Vaughn said he’s patiently awaiting what the league office rules.
“I’m interested to hear the explanation of both [Embiid and Harden plays],” he said. “So I’ll be tuned in and waiting for my email box to fill up, for sure.”
Dame Time
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard watched Nets-Sixers Game 3 courtside at Barclays Center on Thursday.
Vaughn said he didn’t know Lillard was in attendance until his son informed him after the game.
“What was that about? If ya’ll got something let me know now!” the Nets’ coach said on Friday.
Lillard is projected as one of the most sought-after trade targets this season. The Nets have a wealth of draft assets to send in any deal to improve the roster, and scoring — Lillard’s specialty — is a need in Brooklyn.
