Joel Embiid’s legacy is on the line here.
Sure, maybe we can blame Bryan Colangelo’s team for reporting a torn meniscus as a bone bruise and allowing him to play on a knee that ultimately needed surgery. Blame Doc Rivers for leaving the superstar in a game up by 29 with under four minutes to go. Blame the NBA for implementing a 65 minimum rule for MVP and All-NBA. Blame Elton Brand’s or Daryl Morey’s medical staff, or Nick Nurse not spotting an ailing MVP and simply swap in Paul Reed. Blame the national media’s shameful discourse about Joel ducking Nikola Jokic, without taking five minutes to fact check.