With the Boston Celtics on the brink of capturing their 18th NBA Championship, holding a commanding 3-0 lead in the 2024 NBA Finals, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid shared his thoughts.
The 30-year-old made a guest appearance on ESPN's NBA Countdown pre-game show before Game 4 of the Finals, where co-host Malika Andrews asked for his opinion on whether this could mark the beginning of a Celtics dynasty.
"I don't think so, not with the new CBA. And you also gotta understand the whole East was kind of hurt this year, myself included," the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player declared.
Embiid played through injury in this year's postseason run after tearing the meniscus in his left knee in January, and he also dealt with Bell's palsy during the playoffs but managed to appear in all six games as they were eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks.
The Sixers and Celtics met in the playoffs last season in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where it went to a decisive Game 7 with the Celtics emerging victorious.
The Celtics' path to the Finals marred by injured opponents
The Celtics navigated the Eastern Conference playoffs against teams with significant injuries.
In the first round, the Miami Heat was without Jimmy Butler for the entire series with an MCL sprain.
Moving to the second round, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell missed the final two games of their series, while in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton for the last two games of the series.
Throughout the Eastern Conference, aside from Embiid, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo also missed the playoffs due to a strained left calf.
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