Marcus Morris on Joel Embiid: 'I Wouldn't Say a Damn Word If I Was Down 3-1'
Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris didn't think Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was in much of a position to brag during Philadelphia's 103-92 win Monday.
More than once, Morris gestured with his hands to say the Celtics were up 3-0 in the series, which has become a 3-1 lead with the Sixers' victory:
"Because it's reality," Morris said of making the gesture, per ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg. "It's hard because I know I wouldn't say a damn word if I was down 3-1. But, hey, we're all different. So it is what it is."
Morris also spoke broadly about Philadelphia's series deficit.
"S--t, I'm ready to go now," he said. "They had a lot to say in here. They did what they're supposed to do. They got one. S--t, we did what we're supposed to do, we got one [on the road]. So we'll go back 3-1, and hopefully we put it away."
Morris has a point. The Sixers still have a mountain to climb to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, so Embiid might be getting ahead of himself with his trash talk.
At the same time, Embiid can't afford to deviate from his usual, gregarious self, lest it have an effect on the rest of the team. Even though he's just 24, the 2018 All-Star is one of the team leaders, so he helps set the tone.
If Embiid is frustrated or sulking on the court, then it's likely going to have an impact on the rest of the Sixers. But his confidence is bound to rub off on his teammates, despite Philadelphia's long odds in the second round.
The Sixers will look to keep their season alive Wednesday when they hit the road for Game 5.
