Spike on Why It's Already a Different Joel This Year + Zo's First 10 Games Predictions
Preseason (technically) starts tonight!
SPIKE’S CORNER - WHY 30-YEAR-OLD JOEL EMBIID STILL HAS ROOM TO GROW
It is rare nowadays in sports that you get to see an athlete get to go from a kid to a fully formed adult in one place. Not that they don’t grow up eventually as we all (most of us) do, it’s just that they usually end up in a different city before that happens.
It seems as though that’s what we’re experiencing with Joel Embiid. It’s kind of amazing to watch him learn things off the basketball court as well as on.
For context, my wife is eight years younger than me (I’m 48) and we started dating 15 years ago, so she and her friends were in their mid (and then late) 20’s. When we were younger, and she would tell me that one of her friends was dating someone new and that it was getting serious, I’d always ask how old the guy was. If that age was anything under 30, I’d say, “Oh, that’ll never work, he’s still an idiot. Guys don’t grow out of it until 30 at the very earliest.” I was correct most of the time.
We’ve seen the physical signs of aging on the big guy for years now. He’s not as springy as he used to be (I know the feeling), he’s not quite as thin as he used to be (I also know the feeling). But with the age and the slowing of his body, he’s evolved as a person, and we’ve seen the signs of that too. The Twitter stuff largely went away, Tro-ell became a thing of the past.
But as Joel moves into his 30s, now a dad with another one on the way, we get to see his evolution as a person well – and I believe we saw a part of that during Media Day.
Embiid’s straightforward answer on his weight, that he had lost some and needs to lose more, was different. His acknowledgement that both his physical condition, and his choice to prioritize awards during the year, were a factor in his playoff injuries, was also different. There was something different about the tone of not caring about All-NBA, and that all that he’d be judged on is his health and how he performs in April, May (hope) and June (really hope) is a sign that he’s looking at things differently. Taking accountability, admitting your mistakes, knowing what’s really important, that’s all grown up shit that it takes us time to figure out.
Back when I was manager-guy, I used to tell people who worked for me that apologizing is this superpower that you gain as you grow up. Taking blame or accountability is terrifying, until you start doing it, and you realize it actually makes things much easier. If someone is mad at you, and you just apologize, it usually ends the conflict and you can move forward.
The prime of an athlete comes at the meeting point of when their mental acuity evolves and their physical skill is still valid enough to put it to good use. Guys like LeBron James, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, all stayed so great later in their career because they kept getting smarter and smarter, and could still take advantage of it.
While Joel’s physical prime may be past, his basketball player prime may still be to come as Joel the person catches up to Joel the physical being.
We’re still in this thing. Don’t give up yet.
ZO’S CORNER - SCRIPTING THE SIXERS’ FIRST 10 REGULAR SEASON GAMES
Game 1 - Milwaukee (Season & Home Opener)
Terrific vibes carry over from offseason and training camp. Too much for even Giannis and Dame Goggins (Google Dame Lillard, David Goggins training), 1-0.
Game 2 - Toronto (First road game)
Usually a house of horrors regardless of how good/bad the Raps are, but it’s finally different this time thanks to Mad Max, 2-0.
Game 3 - Pacers
Second really good test of the very young season. First “PG Game,” 3-0.
Game 4 - Pistons
Tobias revenge? Hell no, too much Mad Max and PG, 4-0.
Game 5 - Grizzlies
First real slugfest against the better-than-advertised Grizz and Ja Morant redemption tour. Too much Olympic Jo though, 5-0.
Game 6 - Suns
First of a 3 game road swing, too much Olympic, soon-to-be-MVP Devin Booker, 5-1.
Game 7 - Clippers
PG homecoming but they stink, 6-1.
Game 8 - Lakers
Mad Max 40 piece on Bronny’s head top, 7-1.
Game 9 - Hornets
First Jo 40-10 game, 8-1.
Game 10 - Knicks
Very tough hard-fought bragging rights, 9-1.