Fresh off one of the most remarkable comebacks in franchise history, Joel Embiid has already turned his attention to the next challenge, and hes calling on Philadelphia fans to play their part.After the 76ers stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Boston Celtics, Embiid delivered a direct message with a second-round showdown against the New York Knicks looming.I just have a message for our fans, Embiid said postgame. Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. Were going to need the support.Dont sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.The concern stems from past experience. During the teams previous playoff meeting, Knicks fans flooded the Wells Fargo Center, creating a road-like atmosphere for the Sixers in their own building, something Embiid clearly hasnt forgotten.Philadelphia appears to be taking additional steps to prevent a repeat, implementing ticket sale restrictions tied to billing addresses within the Greater Philadelphia area.Still, the reality of the secondary market makes it difficult to fully control who ends up in the stands.Knicks forward Josh Hart acknowledged as much when discussing the situation.Good thing about New Yorkers, man, theyre persistent. They dont care, bro. Theyre going to do it, man, Hart said. And for a lot of people, everything revolves around money. So, you know, if they get a good price for those tickets, theyre going to sell them.Embiid, however, isnt backing down from his plea, even jokingly offering financial help to keep tickets in the hands of Sixers supporters.Related Article: Steve Kerr Explains Why Draymond Green is Best Defensive Player EverKnicks fans travel they buy tickets, he said. Theres going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Dont do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, Ive got you.The stakes are high. Philadelphia is riding momentum after snapping a decades-long playoff drought against Boston, with Embiid leading the charge following his return from injury. His dominant performances helped flip the series and rewrite the teams postseason narrative.READ MORE: Joel Embiid Takes Over as Sixers Lock Down Celtics to Stay Alive
