Embeast vs the big KAT

 Could become a really good rivalry over the next decade or so if both guys stay sound.

 Ive got Embiid at 2 levels higher than Towns, who is probably the most over rated player in the league.

GMs voted him as the player they would start a franchise with in a survey.

Towns reminds me of prime Derrick Coleman but Embiid reminds me of Hakeem with more range.

No contest.

 Gotta say Embiid dominated that first half. 5-10 for 16-points and 5-boards. Ehen they put Aldrich on him its 1st degree murder. Philly up 14 at the half but expect Minnesota to respond. Towns 2-8. Half starting now.

 Wow! What a treat as a fan…… I’m watching these two future Super Stars & all I’m thinking is: This is the next great Center rivalry in NBA.

KAT was So impressive. His motor never stops, he’s smooth AND he’s physical. He plays w/ so much passion. The way he uses the pump fake makes him almost unguardable. KAT passes, shoots, drives, plays amazing defense & he does all those things w/ an incredible intensity & Towns rebounds like his very life depends on it.

And b/c KAT was so great; b/c KAT showed Zero mercy & tried to Crush the Rookie Embiid is what made Embiid’s performance so impressive. Embiid is an absolute Freak Show. The things he does on a basketball court should Not be humanly possible. You can tell Embiid is still figuring out his game; trial & error, finding his spots & developing a rhythm w/ his teammates but he’s an Insane Specimen. but OMG his skill set is Off the Charts! In addition, he is an absolute Killer. Embiid was blasting his way to the Rim right to the end of the game. He ciuld get his shot any time he wanted but i was clear Embiid WANTED to bang w/ KAT. He wanted KAT to know that he was bigger & stronger & he was. KAT is a Legit 7 footer & looks 250 & Embiid to be 2 inches taller & 20 lbs heavier. Embiid is so tall & long he can get his shot any time any where but even though he has a beautiful smooth stroke & can fill it up from 20 foot & in like it’s nothing, it’s like he wants to make you feel his physicality & his presence so he just pounds his man under the rim

It was the type of match up where I felt grateful to be a fan – Just a Remarkable performance by both men.

 For most of the game Towns disappeared when Embiid was in the game.  At the end KAT got it going, looked a little more comfortable. But that dude fouls more people when he is driving the basketball then anyone in the league. He plays hard but he should be whistled for more offensive fouls.  He did block Embiid’s shot at the end of the game.  I have to agree with hype in that Embiid is at least a full level above Towns.  Kat has to work hard for his,  Embiid looks like he is just playin with fools.   

 From the part of the game that I saw Embeast was certainly getting the better of KAT and overall put up better scoring on 7 minutes less playing time. Both guys are great young prospects but if Embeast hadn’t missed the 2 years, I think he’d have been ahead of KAT at this moment.

But don’t forget that KAT is over 18 months younger than Embeast but has played nearly 100 NBA games more and possibly played more basketball from a younger age, so to judge where both are now is difficult.

Embeast is playing decent minutes now but is still being managed workloadwise. The next thing we want to see is Simmons on court to see how that dynamic works out.

I liked this match-up too.  Very entertaining.  If I had to go with who is going to be the better long-term NBA player, I am going with KAT.  I say that mainly because Embiid only is playing every other game right now.  He is rested for days at a time when other players have played twice as many games.  Embiid has been brought along so slowly that I don’t think it’s fair to claim Embiid is "on a whole different level" than KAT based on one game they played together.  

KAT has played 117 NBA games in 1 and a half seasons.  Only 8 players in the NBA have played more minutes than KAT this year.  Embiid has played a grand total of 23 games in 3 seasons.  This season alone, KAT has played 35 games versus Embiid’s 23.  I have Embiid on my fantasy team and it’s so annoying that the Sixers rest him every other game.  If KAT had been given 2 years to practice with NBA players with no games, and then rested every other game in his third season, would we see a different KAT right now?  I think everyone tends to forget that although this is Embiid’s "rookie" year, he has been in the league for 3 years, and is being rested and handled with kid gloves this year.

People who claim that KAT does not play defense are not credible.  KAT is 5th in offensive rebounds and 9th in defensive rebounds this year, and is 14th in total rebound percentage (Embiid is not in the top 20).  He is 19th in blocks per game (Embiid not in top 20).  Hard to say that KAT is terrible on defense with these stats.

Let’s let Embiid play more than 23 career games over 3 seasons before we annoint him as the next Olajuwon.  In the meantime KAT is grinding it out night in and night out and putting up sick numbers.  Wait a couple of seasons to see who is better once both players are in the grind and playing comparable minutes.  I don’t think Embiid has the durability, and I think KAT will ultimately be the one who was "levels above Embiid".

I like Embiid, and I think he is a great player.  But I think he’s hte one riding the hype train right now, not KAT.  Let’s see Embiid’s fragile bones make it through a couple of regular seasons without being rested, and players huge minutes like KAT, before we proclaim him "levels above" KAT.