Won’t Back Down: Rozier, Morris Not Intimidated By Big Bad Joel Embiid (videos)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- They say it’s not a party until something gets broken. Well it’s not really a Playoff series until someone tries to punch someone else in the face. Wouldn’t you know it Celtics guard Terry Rozier right in the middle of it, this time mixing it up with Sixers big man Joel Embiid.

The two got into it in after Rozier got called for an offensive foul in the second quarter of Monday night’s 103-92 loss to the Sixers in Game 4 of the Conference Semifinals. Embiid tried to swipe the ball away from him. Scary Terry didn’t like it and went at the big man and the two had to be separated.

No punches were thrown but according to the Sixers center it wasn’t for lack of trying.

“He tried to punch me twice,” Embiid said. “Too bad he’s so short that he couldn’t get to my face. I didn’t understand why it was a double technical because I was just trying to get the ball. He was the one trying to swing.”

Rozier, as he did during the opening series against the Bucks and Eric Bledsoe didn’t really seemed phased by the altercation or Embiid’s comments.

“To set the record straight, I wake up every morning not worried about nobody,” Rozier said. “No man on this Earth. We were out there having fun. It’s just part of a basketball game. That’s all it is.”

Embiid had trouble making friends all night. Late in the 3rd he started jawing at Marcus Morris following a dunk that gave Philly an 11 point lead. Morris responded by gesturing 3-0 with his hands over and over again. The two continued going at it following a TV timeout.

Morris is one of the league’s most fearless trash talkers but says he wouldn’t be talking if he were in Embiid’s shoes.

”I know I wouldn’t say a damn word if I were down 3-1 but, hey, we all different. It is what it is,” Morris said after the game.

For all full length locker room pressers, click here