Fansided

Joel Embiid is there, the Phantom of the NBA Playoffs

By Shea Corrigan

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 14: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers rings the bell to start the game against the Miami Heat in game one of round one of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 14, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 14: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers rings the bell to start the game against the Miami Heat in game one of round one of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 14, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Shout out to all the NBA musical theater fans out there. Joel Embiid’s face injury mask and latest self-declared hashtag is for you.

Joel Embiid, The Process incarnate, was out for Game 1 of the Sixers vs. Heat first round series of the NBA Playoffs, but this is Joel Embiid we’re talking about, so he remained intrisincally involved. Namely, he was responsible for ringing the model Philadelphia Liberty Bell to kick off the proceedings of the 76ers first playoff series since 2012.

Joel Embiid, musical theater fan, did so with a white half face mask that was strongly reminiscent of the iconic mask worn by the Phantom of the Opera in Andrew Lloyd Weber’s classic Broadway musical, The Phantom of the Opera.

(Lest you think we’re reading totally unrelated interests in a relatively common NBA occurrence — face masks aren’t super common, but they’re certainly not unprecedented — Embiid himself has used “Phantom of the Process” as a phrase and/or hashtag on various tweets. Admittedly, not using any of the photographs in which he actually looks like the Phantom of the Opera. The white mask and snazzy suit jacket is really so key to the vibe. Say what you will about Embiid, the man is exceptionally branding savvy.)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 14: Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 14: Joel Embiid /

Phantom of the Opera isn’t even that good of a musical, but can you imagine Embiid being intro’d to the pounding organ chords of the theme?

Listen, can’t you hear it?

[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse 1: SAM HINKIE]
In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came
That voice which calls to me and speaks my name
And do I dream again? For now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my mind

[Verse 2: JOEL EMBIID]
Sing once again with me our strange duet
My power over you grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me to glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind

[Verse 3: BRETT BROWN]
Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear

[EMBIID]
It’s me they hear…

[ALL OF PHILADELPHIA]
Your/My spirit and my/your voice
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my/your mind

Next: Raptors shoot the lights out: 3 takeaways from Game 1

Anyways, Embiid hopes to return “soon” — his personal goal is Game 2 — though decisions like that do tend to come down to how the Sixers do in the series without him. You don’t see the Phantom of the Opera — a.k.a. Erik — until Act 1, Scene 3, so extrapolate that to a playoff schedule as you see fit.

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