Asked about elbowing Nets center Jarrett Allen in the face, Joel Embiid said, “I got him pretty good, and I’m sorry about it.” Sitting next to Embiid, Ben Simmons chortled. Then, Embiid laughed.
Embiid sounded sarcastic. I don’t know whether he meant to. But he sounded that way.
Were the 76ers actually laughing about the flagrant foul? Was Simmons laughing about Embiid’s monotone delivery? Did Embiid laugh just because Simmons did?
Whatever the reason, neither Caris LeVert nor Jared Dudley were pleased.
Ian Begley of ESPN:
Nets guard Caris LeVert on Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons laughing during Embiid’s post-game apology for his Game 2 elbow to Jarrett Allen: “We don’t really like that. We thought that was kind of disrespectful.”
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 17, 2019
Brian Lewis of the New York Post:
Dudley on Embiid laughing off the flagrant to Jarett Allen: "I felt a certain type of way because you’re laughing & someone could've really gotten hurt. Luckily Jay did pop up. That's been Embiid’s personality but just because it’s your personality doesn’t mean it’s right." #Nets
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) April 17, 2019
This does fit Embiid’s personality. He is a troll.
And Brooklyn should be mad about it. Allen took the brunt of a dangerous play, and the Nets should stick up for their teammate.
In 2019, that probably won’t translate to committing a hard foul on Embiid in Game 3. But this could motivate Brooklyn at a time teams should always be seeking an extra edge.