Rockets Star Alperen Sengun. Joel Embiid gave me advice during a recent matchup
Alperen Sengun is having a great year for the Houston Rockets, and he has recently gotten some advice from one of the best players in the NBA.
After the Rockets fell to the Philadelphia 76ers 124-115 on Jan. 15, Joel Embiid had some words of wisdom to share with the young Rockets center.
“He was telling me how to get a foul,” Sengun jokingly told Complex Sports. “I’m kidding, he was teaching me how to attack big defensive players…It was really cool, after the game, he just came to me and said, ‘I’m a good defender, but if someone is guarding you like that, you need to attack no matter what’.”
The reigning MVP knows a thing or two about getting to the free-throw line, as just in the game, Embiid made 16 of his 17 free throws. Sengun also finished that game with 19 points but was hesitant to be more aggressive with a big defender like Embiid in his face.
When Sengun gets better at not backing down from big defenders and going right at them, he will become even more unstoppable than he already is, and he could potentially be a future All-Star starter.
Sengun and the rest of the Rockets will be back in action on Tuesday against the new-look Indiana Pacers. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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NBA fan mailbag: 76ers’ plans amid Joel Embiid injury, trade deadline rumors
Just days away from the NBA trade deadline, there is no telling how the balance of power will shift across the league. Compared to last year, when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were on the move, there is truly no groundbreaking trade to be made. With this said, there are still plenty of talented players on the trade block that will influence how the remainder of the season plays out. It is also worth noting that injuries to Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid and New York Knicks forward Julius Randle have all of a sudden changed the way we look at the hierarchy of the Eastern Conference.
Before diving into all there is to discuss with the trade deadline, Embiid’s injury is the most noteworthy news to come out of the weekend. After dealing with knee soreness and pain over the course of the last several weeks, the Sixers’ star suffered a left knee injury last Tuesday when Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga fell hard on Embiid’s leg. Upon further testing and imaging, it was ruled that there was some sort of meniscus injury. The full extent of the injury and what exactly Embiid is having surgery to address are unknown. At this point, all that has been said is that he has a “displaced flap” of the meniscus, whatever that truly means.
If the 76ers are to have any chance of competing for a title this season, they are going to need Embiid healthy. Tyrese Maxey is great, but Embiid is arguably the best offensive player in the league. His extended absence now puts Philadelphia in a very awkward situation, with less than 72 hours until the NBA trade deadline.
Just a couple of hours north of Embiid and the 76ers, the Knicks ponder similar questions about what to do at the trade deadline given Randle’s injury situation. New York has said that Randle dislocated his right shoulder and will be re-evaluated again in two to three weeks. That is all that has been said by the team regarding their All-Star. This means the Knicks will be without Randle for their next five games before the All-Star break.
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