Expectations are still quite quiet and unwavering in Philadelphia on a day full of unanticipated grief.
CAMDEN, N. J. — The most somber news brought about the end of Daryl Morey's victory lap, or perhaps he was elevated for a minute into a second.
Moments after Dikembe Mutombo's passing on Monday night following a battle with brain cancer, the 76ers leader was greeted by team members during his media day press conference appearance.
When Morey returned, his large giggle was gone, replaced by swollen eyes, a disturbed tone and startled movements. He could n't bring himself to answer the next question about the emergence of Tyrese Maxey, but he delivered a personal recollection of the Hall of Fame center.
" I knew him personally, we were together for several seasons in Houston, obviously very important to the Sixers company as well", Morey said. " Really a wonderful human being. He was the person I would go to as a freshman GM in this group all the time. His accomplishments on the court, we do n't need to talk about too much. Only an incredible man being, what he did off the court for Africa".
It was the 76ers ' acquisition of Mutombo in 2001 following an outstanding achievement in the Eastern Conference's return win in the All-Star Game that buoyed him from Atlanta to Philadelphia, the catalyst in the show's unusual move to the NBA Finals that June.
Even though the team could only manage one get against the potent Los Angeles Lakers, he was the Defensive Player of the Year that time, which was his third for distinction, is fond of Mutombo, Allen Iverson, and coach Larry Brown, as well as its two seventh-game victories in the quest for the Playoffs. Philadelphia has n't been to the Finals since.
76ers sun Joel Embiid called Mutombo a "role model".
" It's a sad time, especially for us Africans", Embiid said. I believe he was better off the judge than what he did on it. He's one of the men I look up to, as far as having an impact".
Mutombo's influence, which began at Georgetown along with Alonzo Mourning and eventually under the leadership of John Thompson, was obvious going into Embiid after he finally picked up a baseball in his youth.
Embiid's new normal conditions have been Hall-worthy, but he's still searching for that Mutombo clutching-the-ball-and-cradling-it second like he did in Seattle in 1994 when Mutombo's Denver Nuggets shocked the top-seeded SuperSonics in the first round, the first ever 1-8 unhappy.
After he's become a top athlete, Embiid has had his colleagues go through various stages.
" Consistency. That's really all I demand", Embiid said. " If you keep switching guys every year, two years, I do n't think that takes you anywhere. If you look at some of the team who've won, they've been together for long.
" For me, it's all about regularity."
Embiid has been the constant, but he has n't been able to carry the 76ers over the hump. In the first round, he gamely scored 33 goals while Maxey ran circles around somebody defending him from Bell's paralysis against the Knicks. It was n't enough, and the doubts on whether the 76ers ' window closed before it opened became irresistible to discuss.
On a time filled with sudden sadness, the expectations are still quite noisy and obvious in Philadelphia. True pulled off a revolt when Paul George shunned his home Los Angeles Clippers and resisted attempts from the Golden State Warriors to fit properly into the 76ers ' cover place this summer.
But while George is yet another changes, he does enjoy the type that fits effortlessly into how the 76ers envision themselves. He's a pliable two-way aircraft, a solid plus-40 percent 3-point shooter who works well with the space Embiid will make by mere presence and the gravity Maxey may force by his speed.
And George is Embiid's most regular co-star since Jimmy Butler, and despite the fact that George missed a lot of time in Los Angeles during three of his previous five times, it is still a better performance.
It helps that George seems over himself, also, having gone through the gauntlet in Indiana, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles.
" I constantly saw myself as being one of the best players in the league," George said". First, I wanted it to be stone, in a selfish way of pushing myself, wanting to become great. I wanted all to drop on to my arms. Going through it and having injuries ( in Indiana ) and going against competitive and a well-balanced and superstar team in Miami, you ca n't do it alone. You know, you need celebrity power. You need power."
The 34-year-old George is Mutombo's period when he was saved from Atlanta and placed alongside the young gentleman in Philadelphia. Mutombo's time might've prevented Philadelphia from taking more runs at the name, but if history is a guide, these 76ers might have enough for a genuine chance at a ring.
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