December 16, 2016
Over his last three games played, Joel Embiid is in a rut offensively. The Process is shooting 36 percent from the floor overall and just 10 percent from behind the arc. This isn’t a huge cause for concern as rookies, even high-level ones like Embiid, are going to struggle.
The good news for the Sixers is that Embiid, when he’s not playing the 4 against the league’s best offense (as was the case on Wednesday in a poor outing against Toronto), can bring it defensively. He shot 5-15 in New Orleans last week but still managed to be a +27 in the box score because he was locked in on the defensive end.
Embiid is a solid defensive rebounder. 16 games into his NBA career, he’s already an elite shot-blocker. Embiid also has the ability switch out onto guards and blow up a pick-and-roll when that is required of him. He’s capable of a lot.
Philly Mag’s Derek Bodner broke down the numbers and attempted to make the comparison between Embiid and the Sixers’ other two centers (Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes) as fair as possible.
Didn’t matter. Even if it’s a fairly small sample, the Sixers are elite defensively when Embiid plays and poor when Okafor is on the floor:
The reasons why are pretty consistent. When paired with the Sixers’ perimeter starters, the team rebounds more (82.7 percent defensive rebounding rate) with Embiid on the court, holds the opponent to just 39.6 percent shooting, and just 35.2 percent from three-point range, and forces turnovers on 15 percent of the opponents possessions.
His individual defensive metrics are just as stellar. The man Embiid’s defending is shooting just 42.2 percent on the season, including just 44.9 percent on shots within 6-feet of the basket, shots they usually make at a 59.8 percent clip. When an opponent (either Embiid’s man or not) attempts a shot near the basket with Embiid in the vicinity, they shoot just 41.4 percent, a dominating figure when taken in a league-wide context (below). Opponents are shooting just 39.2 percent and turn the ball over nearly 20 percent of the time when a ball handler tries to attack Embiid in a pick and roll, which doesn’t even take into account the passes Embiid forces because of his surprisingly nimble feet.
With Embiid sliding over to the 4 defensively last game and likely tonight, we’ll get the opportunity to see him have some different responsibilities than usual. But long-term, he has the chance to anchor some top-notch defenses with his play in the middle.
1. Jerryd Bayless? He’s out for the year.
2. For the first time since he’s been a Sixer, Embiid didn’t trust the process on Wednesday against Toronto.
3. Adrian Wojnarowski has intel that other teams don’t want to give up all that much for Nerlens Noel. Not exactly a Woj Bomb, if you’ve been keeping an eye on the situation.
4. Ben Simmons is back on the floor. Well, sort of.
Week 6 NBA Rookie of the Year race: Sixers' rookies ahead of the rest: AJ Neuharth-Keusch
Barring injury, Embiid is going to be the rookie of the year. USA Today has Dario Saric ranked second, which I’m not sure I agree with. It does go to show how far ahead of the rest of the field Embiid is, though:
Despite what's been a bit of an up-and-down rookie season thus far, Saric ranks second among all first-year players in scoring (10.2 points per game), rebounds (6.0 per game) and three-pointers made (1.4 per game) and has been a key contributor off the bench for the Sixers. With averages of 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds on 48.5% shooting in three games this week, he moves back into our No. 2 spot.
Nerlens Noel Is The Best Blazers Solution: Andrew Sharp, Sports Illustrated
Sharp thinks that Noel and the Blazers would be a good fit. Seeing as Portland currently sports the worst defense in the league, he would probably help them quite a bit. That said, I would much rather pay Noel whatever his next contract is than Allen Crabbe (a very good three-point shooter who does little else) a cool $18.5 million per year:
So let's do it. If the Blazers send Allen Crabbe and a protected first-round pick to the Sixers, this can work. Philly needs Crabbe's shooting around Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and they don't have to worry about the cap space Crabbe would occupy. Crabbe would likely sign off an opportunity to play 35 minutes per game on the east coast. 76ers GM Bryan Colangelo could declare victory after he finally lands a first-round pick for one of his big men. The Blazers would get short-term help up front, and potentially a long-term answer who can grow with Lillard and McCollum over the next several years. Who says no?
Kevin Pelton’s Weekly Chat: ESPN.com
Pelton was asked questions about the last two subjects. First, on Saric:
His finishing has been a major disappointment. It also seems like the Sixers are using him more as a stretch 4 than a playmaking 4, even with Ben Simmons out of the lineup. In that role, I'm not sure he's anything special and yet he's turned the ball over a great deal.
And then if Embiid or Noel is the better defender:
Yeah, Embiid has definitely played well enough to make it a discussion. I'm inclined to lean his direction given how dominant the Sixers have been defensively this season with him on the court, but would reserve judgment until we see Noel with the same pieces.
And finally, here’s Simmons talking about his rehab a little. But mostly, he’s playing with his cat:
.@BenSimmons25 gives an update on his health while continuing his recovery journey back to the court for the @Sixers. #MadeInPHILA pic.twitter.com/EqLF9Bfzlr
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) December 15, 2016
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
