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[Saba Sports News] The Boston Celtics failed to clinch the NBA championship on Friday night, much to the delight of Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers star served as a guest analyst on the ESPN/ABC telecast of Game 4 of the Finals between the Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. When asked if the Celtics were on the verge of becoming a dynasty, Embiid responded with some shade.
“I don’t think so, not with the new CBA,” said Embiid. “And you also gotta understand the whole East was kinda hurt, myself included.”
Embiid’s point about the new collective bargaining agreement is valid, as it’s designed to make it difficult for teams to keep multiple star players together for long periods. However, most of Boston’s key players are still under contract for several years, and the NBA’s new TV deal after the 2024-25 season should bring an influx of cash, boosting the salary cap.
Regarding injuries, the Celtics faced the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler in the first round, the Cleveland Cavaliers without Donovan Mitchell for several games in the second round, and the Indiana Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton in the conference finals. Other East playoff teams, including the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Embiid’s 76ers, were also hampered by injuries.
Embiid had previously expressed on social media that he believed the Celtics’ success this season was more given than earned. In his TV appearance on Friday, Embiid doubled down on that opinion.