“More is lost by indecision than wrong decision,” is one of Edie Falco’s most memorable lines from her role as Carmela in The Sopranos — meaning that sometimes the consequences of never making a decision outweigh those of making the wrong decision.
But in this case, a wrong decision from Sixers center Joel Embiid led to another one of Falco’s more memorable lines: “Joel Embiid, he’s mean.”
The three-time Emmy-winning actress, and die-hard New York Knicks fan, Falco joined the Nova Knicks Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart on their podcast The Roommates Show. Towards the end of the episode, Falco had a lot to get off her chest.
“Joel Embiid, he’s mean,” Falco said. “He like elbowed you in a game last year and I was going to go after him. I mean that’s how bad it was. And then I think I’ve seen you guys play since then and you guys are all like cool with each other. I’m like you don’t hold a grudge?”
The elbow Falco is referring to occurred in Game 4 of last year’s first-round playoff series between the two teams at Madison Square Garden. In a physical, hard-fought game, Knicks fans — including Falco — were upset with a no-call after they believed the star 76ers center got away with a cheap shot on Brunson.
While Falco was left angered by the play, Brunson has moved on from the incident, adding that it isn’t personal between the pair.
“I don’t hold grudges for the most part, yeah,” Brunson said. “I’ve known Joel for before I even got in the league. I met him a couple of times. It’s just respect there. I think there’s a certain line related [to it]. There’s respect and you’re competing and once it’s all done like, it’s good. I won’t say it’s cool, but it’s good.
“There’s some people who you respect for the most part and you’re cool with and for me he’s one of those guys for sure.”
You would think Brunson’s explanation was enough to sway Falco in favor of Embiid — that and the fact that the Knicks had the last laugh last year, knocking the Sixers out of the playoffs — but it wasn’t.
“I don’t know, I’m not with you on that,” Falco responded.
The next time the Sixers are at Madison Square Garden is on Feb. 26.
