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Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid in action during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid in action during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid dunks during an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid dunks during an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid passes the ball past the Houston Rockets’ Nene (42) in the fourth quarter on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Rockets won, 123-118. (Yong Kim/Philadelphia Daily News/TNS)
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid passes the ball past the Houston Rockets’ Nene (42) in the fourth quarter on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Rockets won, 123-118. (Yong
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid in action during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid in action during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) goes up for a dunk against Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. Houston won 123-118. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) goes up for a dunk against Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. Houston won 123-118.
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid (21) goes up for a shot against Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13), Ryan Anderson (3). Nene Hilario (42) and Patrick Beverley (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid (21) goes up for a shot against Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13), Ryan Anderson (3). Nene Hilario (42) and Patrick Beverley (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game,
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid during an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid during an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid in action during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid in action during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
It had been a long time since there was a Sixer worth fearing. Then Joel Embiid came along.
The wait was worth it.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich often uses the phrase “appropriate fear” – it is appropriate anytime Embiid takes the court.
He is averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.1 assists, on pace to become the first rookie to the hit those marks since Tim Duncan.
The only other rookie to post a 20-7-2-2 season was another large fellow named David Robinson.
Incredibly, Embiid is hitting those marks in 15 fewer minutes per game than Duncan, a result of team management taking extreme precautions with his twice surgically repaired right foot.
Even with the games off and minutes restriction, Brett Brown’s Sixers are one win shy of matching their highest win total since 2012-13. (Rock) Chalk that up to the Embiid Effect.
Unfortunately for Gregg Popovich’s former assistant, the “Process” will be on hold Thursday at the AT&T Center.
Embiid did not travel will the team for its four-game road trip, which begins tonight in Dallas.
“There isn’t anything odd going on,” Brown told reporters, per Philly.com. “It’s just that we feel like it’s best for him to get him to where he needs to be and to keep him behind with the resources that we have here and the rest he can get while he’s here.”
Brown’s pack has struggled without its lead dog.
In Embiid’s 786 minutes on the court, the Sixers have outscored opponents by 67 points. In 1,490 minutes without him, they have been outscored by 306. On average, they are 10 points worse per 100 possessions with Embiid out.
Philly is not bereft of talent, but a certain 7-foot, 250-pound Cameroonian center just ties the team together, man.
Brown has two fearbet more capable young bigs in Jahil Okafor (11.3 points, 4.8) and Nerlens Noel (8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds), though neither is capable of completely warping a game like Embiid.
The Spurs will not get a glimpse of Embiid up close until their trip to Philadelphia on Feb. 8.
They won’t mind the wait.
nmoyle@express-news.net
Twitter: @NRmoyle
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