Joel Embiid signaled for Sixers fans to keep quiet after hitting a three-pointer to seal Philadelphia’s 118-111 win Sunday night against the visiting Chicago Bulls.
Embiid finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and four blocked shots in the victory.
The big fella told reporters he was frustrated and merely talking to himself.
Per The Philly Inquirer:
“I was just talking to myself,” he said about the gesture. “I have not been playing up to my standards, even tonight, I didn’t shoot the ball well, I didn’t play well so I was just mad at myself, just frustrated, just got to try to get better every single day.”
He was asked if the shush had anything to do with the crowd’s earlier booing.
“I don’t care how it looks,” he said. “I am just playing basketball, getting back to myself, just being a good (bleep), just playing basketball and just trying to dominate.”
[Brett] Brown said that posting Embiid down low in the fourth quarter was clearly by design.
“I am still figuring it out, still adjusting,” Embiid said. “Tonight, they called a lot of plays for me to be down there. We made it happen and I just have to take my time in what I do best.”
