Nik Stauskas: The Embiid Funnel
I have to say, this is one of the most interesting basketball phenomena I’ve ever seen. The Sixers’ starting lineup (Joel Embiid, Ersan Ilyasova, Robert Covington, Nik Stauskas, and T.J. McConnell) has a defensive rating of 90.3 in 115 minutes played this season, best in the league for any five man lineup. Substitute Gerald Henderson and Sergio Rodriguez in the backcourt, and that number skyrockets to a still impressive 99.7.
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While McConnell is a clear upgrade over Rodriguez, eye test as well as conventional wisdom tells us that Gerald Henderson is a significantly better all-around defender than Nik Stauskas.
But picture this – in a world where each blow-by of Nik Stauskas results in a meeting with a 7’2” behemoth ballerina, maybe that is the most ideal outcome. After all, opponents are only shooting 43.9 percent at the rim when Embiid defends, the lowest such mark in the NBA.
Let’s see it in action:
The Sixers rank 12th in the NBA in field goal percentage against at 45.1 percent. Compared to the 43.9 percent mark in six FGA per game that opponents attack the basket to challenge Joel Embiid, they are statistically better off when avoiding that confrontation.
I do not mean to infer that the sixers should merely allow free passage to the rim and put Embiid on an island. But the safety net of Embiid allows guards to pressure more aggressively on the perimeter and dare them to challenge Embiid.
Stauskas’ physical inferiority necessitates that he play very conservative perimeter defense – giving space and allowing for jump shots. With Embiid, however, Stauskas can suffocate guards on the perimeter with no conscience. Embiid makes getting beaten off the dribble a non-issue – or maybe, just maybe, a preference.