From a moment of brightness to a world of difference: Both MVPs Why is Embiid getting bigger and bigger with Jokic

Among the centers in the 21st century, Jokic and Embiid are the two most dazzling - one is 4 years 3MVP + 1 championship + FMVP, and the other is 1 MVP but they have not even made the division final. The Big Three even missed the playoffs this season. Why did the two people who were once "lighted for a while" get further and further?

Starting point: Embiid's talent crushed, Jokic "counterattacked in the second round"

In the 2014 draft, Embiid was selected by 76ers in the first round No. 3. Although his injury caused his NBA career to not be smooth (but when he returned, Simmons and another No. 1 pick), the starting point was directly full; Jokic was picked up by the Nuggets with 41 pick in the second round, and he was still competing for the starter with Kanter two years ago, and he only took the main player firm at the end of 2016.

18-19 season was a turning point: Jokic was selected for the first team and led the playoffs; Embiid reached the Eastern Conference semi-finals with the help of Simmons + Butler (extinguished by Leonard's fairy ball in Game 7). But starting from this year, Jokic seemed to have a cheat - he turned 1:3 in two consecutive rounds and entered the Western Conference Finals, and then 3MVP for 4 years, and led the team to win the championship in 22-23 to become FMVP.

And what about Embiid? After 18-19, he fell all the way: he was swept by the Celtics in the second round, reversed by Tatum with 3:2 lead, eliminated by the Heat in the first round after breaking through the playoffs last season, and the three giants missed the playoffs directly this season...

Flaw 1: Injury - Jokic "Iron Man", Embiid "Glass Man"

Jokic is a well-known "hard work" in the league - he has played 364 games in the past five years, missing only 46 games (absence rate of 11.2%), and has not suffered any major injuries.

Embid is a "glass center" - he has played 243 games in the past five years and missed 167 games (absence rate is 40.7%). The left ligament torn in the 19-20 season, the orbital fracture + concussion + finger injury in the 21-22 season, the knee injury in the 22-23 season caused a plunge in the playoff score (9.4 points less per game), and the knee surgery was reimbursed in advance in the 23-24 season...

The blow to the center was fatal - Jokic remained healthy and continued to evolve; Embiid was frequently absent, the team's tactical system was repeatedly disrupted, and his teammates' confidence was also worn out.

Flaw 2: Playing style - Jokic "team brain", Embiid "guard heart"

Jokic's style of play is "center body, point guard brain" - 7.2 assists per game (3.1 assists and turnover ratio this season), which can support, pass the ball, and end, and make the "triple double" the lower limit. He plays harder and stronger in the playoffs (the scores in the playoffs are higher than the regular season every year), and it relies on team basketball: using passes to revitalize teammates and using the inside to fight to create damage.

Embid is "the body of the center and the heart of the defender" - on the offensive end, he likes to hold the ball at a high position and learns to play singles on the defender; on the defensive end, he is unwilling to get stuck in the guard frame, for fear of being injured in the confrontation. He makes mistakes when he encounters double-teams in the playoffs and relies on the whistle at critical moments (he will not play if the referee calls him out).

The most heartbreaking thing is the assist-turnover ratio - Embiid averaged 3.7 assists and 3.4 turnovers per game in his career (nearly 1:1), and Jokic 7.2 assists and 2.9 turnovers (3.1:1). Jokic is the "team brain" and Embiid is the "single-scoring champion".

Flaw 3: Mentality - Jokic "Big Scene", Embiid "Love Complaints"

Jokic is "Mr. Big Scene" - The playoffs are getting crazier, the scores are higher than those in the regular season every year, and the key goal is as stable as an old dog.

Embid was a "playoff softie" - 33.1 points (MVP) in the 22-23 regular season, and the playoffs plummeted to 23.7 points; in the last attack against the Knicks G2 last season, the unreasonable position affected his teammates, and he forced the ball to miss a three-pointer; after losing, he spread his hands and complained to the referee and teammates...

Fans teased him "the body of the center and the heart of the defender", but what was even more heartbreaking is that he lacked a little "champion mentality" - Jokic passed the ball to his teammates, and Embiid left the ball to himself; Jokic used the confrontation to cause damage, and Embiid used the whistle to ask for a free throw; Jokic "big scene", Embiid "complaints".

Embid wants to make a counterattack? Let's change these 3 points first, 31-year-old Embiid is in the golden period of center forward, but the gap with Jokic is getting bigger and bigger. If he wants to break through the playoffs, he must change 3 points:

Stay healthy: reduce the "glass attributes" and avoid frequent injuries;

Adjust the play style: fight more inside and cause damage, and float less on the outside; improve the passing ability, don't always leave the ball to yourself;

Correct your mentality: complain less about the referee teammates, learn more about Jokic's "big scenes" - dare to pass the key ball, dare to bear, and dare to win.

Jokic became a legend with "team + health + big heart". If Embiid does not change, he may really become "the most watery MVP in history".