MIAMI -- Joel Embiid never really sleeps well. He's a night owl by nature. And since he moved to the United States (just seven years ago!) he has formed a bad habit of playing video games way too late into the night. This isn't some hobby. Embiid once admitted he thinks he might be "addicted" to video games because his competitiveness is always flowing and has to go somewhere.

In his first three injury-plagued seasons in the league, many a night was spent destroying anyone willing to play him. So just imagine how restless he has been these past three weeks having to sit out with a fractured orbital bone and concussion after running into teammate Markelle Fultz's shoulder on March 28.

After four years under head coach Brett Brown of miserable losing, the Philadelphia 76ers were in the playoffs, at home, and Embiid could only watch and pine for the court. The only thing that settled him and let him sleep at night was watching his team continue the 17-game win streak it began before his injury.

"It was hard, but it wasn't as painful because I knew we were winning," Embiid told ESPN after he scored 23 points in the Sixers' 128-108 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night to take a 2-1 series lead. "But when we lost, I was like, 'No. It's time to come back.'"

After Joel Embiid saw Philadelphia's 17-game win streak snapped, he snapped back into action in Miami. Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports

He left the arena stewing after Monday's Game 2 in Philadelphia. He fired off the now-infamous Instagram story saying he was tired of being "babied." His phone immediately blew up. The Sixers shrugged. That's Joel Embiid. He always wants to play. They're used to his bursts of frustration by now.

He'd been doing two-a-days with his trainer, Drew Hanlen, and the Sixers staff, trying to get back as quickly as possible. The crowd in Philadelphia had been electric. He'd promised them the playoffs, and when Embiid says something like that, he likes to back it up himself. That's not only the key to trash-talking, but the key to Embiid.

It gets him going to get other people going. He trolls on social media so he'll have to answer for it on the court.

"I like playing on the road and quieting the crowd," he said with a smirk. "I love it. I think my stats are better on the road than at home, which is crazy."

But that's Embiid's edge. And it has become Philadelphia's edge too. In his postgame interview with TNT, he even floated the idea of going to the NBA Finals this season.

"Our goal is to go to the Finals so we actually have a pretty good chance," he told TNT. "We have the talent."

It's the kind of thing we've come to expect from Embiid. Say it, then back it up. It's his way of challenging himself and his team to live up to its immense talent, despite the inexperience. Without him, the Sixers were still a special team. But Miami exposed something in Game 2. Without Embiid, the Sixers don't have that edge. A physical, experienced team can push them around.