Last season, then-Indiana Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke wasn’t much of a fan of Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid. These days, however, Embiid said things are a lot different, for one big reason: They’re now on the same team. “It’s easy to say stuff when you’re playing against somebody,” Embiid said with a smile after Thursday’s practice. “I’m sure no one likes to play against me, because all I do is I either score or get fouled. I know the rules and stuff, I just take advantage, I play my game based on that. If someone wants to reach, I’m going to get fouled and I’m going to get to the free throw line.
Last season, then-Indiana Pacers assistant coach Dan Bu…
June 13, 2021 | 6:43 pm EDT Update
Giannis Antetokounmpo: PJ Tucker pushes us to be great
Michael Scotto: Giannis Antetokounmpo on PJ Tucker: “He keeps making everything tough on KD (Kevin Durant). He’s vocal. He’s a leader. He pushes us to be great. He’s definitely a big piece of this organization and this team. He’s going to keep helping us. We definitely need him moving forward.”
Harrison Wind: Michael Malone says in conversations with Nikola Jokic after Game 3, Jokic was, “beating himself up and striving for perfection” regarding the shots and free-throws that he missed.
Gerald Bourguet: Monty Williams on whether the Suns are locked in heading into Game 4: “How could you not be? It’s the playoffs. I believe we have a great level of focus….I think our guys will be ready to go, I think they’re ready to play right now.”
Eric Walden: Clippers’ Nic Batum said his job in this series to put Rudy Gobert into unfamiliar situations and take him away from the hoop. Said his national-team familiarity with Rudy and his friendship don’t make it any easier, because Rudy “is the best in the league” defensively.
Mirjam Swanson: Nicolas Batum on his comfort playing at the 5: “It’s new for me… so I’m learning, a learning process for me during the playoff. I just do my best to make life easier for my two superstars. And Reggie and Luke.”
June 13, 2021 | 6:29 pm EDT Update
Michael Malone: Nuggets still believe
Harrison Wind: Michael Malone pregame says his team still believes but that Phoenix has outplayed them and outcoached them so far this series. He says it will be very easy to tell early on tonight if his team’s belief is “real, or it’s all talk.”
