VIDEO: Joel Embiid Calls Out 76ers for 'Playing Scared' Following Loss to Mavs

Following last night's 19-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks, who were without Luka Doncic, Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid called out the efforts of his teammates, insisting that they "played scared" when it really mattered.

Friday night's defeat made it three straight for the Sixers, who once again looked out of sync on offense and overwhelmed on defense. Embiid's frustrations are entirely valid, as the All-Star scored 33 of the team's 98 points by himself while also grabbing 17 rebounds. The 25-year-old Embiid has looked tremendous since being called out for his own effort by both Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley just a week ago, but while he's stepped up to the plate, the same cannot be said for his teammates, who combined to shoot just 39% Friday.

It's unclear exactly what the disconnect is for Philadelphia in this current moment, but one thing is certain -- this team is far too talented to be performing so poorly. Many had this squad pegged to be a Finals favorite coming out of the East; however, the rise of hungrier teams like the Bucks, Celtics, and Heat has quieted Sixer stans, at least for the time being. It's time for a reality check.