Unlike his frontcourt partner Joel Embiid, Dario Saric doesn’t feel forced to put up a tough front when it comes to the future of the Philadelphia 76ers. His head coach, Brett Brown, noted his team was not intimidated by any teams in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but the Croatian shared a different viewpoint.
“I don’t wanna play against LeBron James. Obviously, he’s top-three player in history,” said Saric, according to Jon Johnson of KYW1060 Philadelphia. “But I think other teams, I’d more than welcome onto our court.”
Embiid couldn’t be there to stop his teammate from saying that, as he took an accidental shot to the head from teammate Markelle Fultz and was taken to a nearby hospital, pre-diagnosed with a facial contusion.
The Sixers have now won eight games in a row, but have gone 1-2 against James and the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, giving them more than enough reason to try and avoid them in the first round of the postseason.
Philadelphia is only within a half-game of Cleveland for the third spot and could end up not facing them if the team manages to stay within fourth or fifth place — as the Cavs seem fated to face the sixth-place Washington Wizards with seven games left in the schedule.
James has been playing like a man possessed since coming off the All-Star break and presents a scary sight for any team coming in his way, despite playing in survival mode with a myriad of injuries surrounding the team in recent days.
