Dario Saric is picking up Joel Embiid’s slack

PHILADELPHIA,PA - DECEMBER 21 : Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA - DECEMBER 21 : Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers can’t replace Joel Embiid‘s production, but Dario Saric is giving it his all.

How do you not love Dario Saric? He hustles on every play, makes some wicked cool passes and plays with an edge that not many players do nowadays. Sure he’ll lose his assignment defensively or have a bad turnover every now and then, but there are too many positives not to like his game.

That has been especially evident for the Philadelphia 76ers in recent games, with injuries (namely to Joel Embiid) forcing Saric into prominence offensively. He’s finding his comfort zone more, and beginning to show some really promising flashes after a much slower start to the campaign.

The Homie was always going to see his role change this season, but Brett Brown’s decision to move him back into the starting linuep was a bit of a surprise. It was expected that Saric would be the second unit’s bell cow, but instead he found himself working off of Ben Simmons in the starting group.

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For a forward who’s at his best putting the ball on the floor and making plays, that adjustment was obviously tough.

Saric has found a really nice balance of late, though, with a number of offensive sets running through him in the post. He’s able to back down defenders, work his way into the teeth of the defense and make a number of smart moves with the ball in his hand.

He’s a crafty finisher around the painted area, while his vision as a passer didn’t go away — and he has dropped some gorgeous dimes to remind us of that.

On top of that, Saric looks better shooting the ball. His consistency isn’t quite there yet, but the release looks smooth and he’s hitting some big shots in important moments.

Given all that Embiid brings to the table offensively, Saric’s improved productivity has been key. The Sixers aren’t winning games right now, but Saric has been their best player at times. From a 27-point game against Chicago to Thursday night’s near-triple-double against Toronto, he’s carrying his load for an injury-riddled group.

Stats, again, don’t tell the whole picture either. It’s that hustle he brings to every play, something that only T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes can consistently match. If there’s one thing this Sixers team does well, it’s bring a lot of grit to the floor, and Saric deserves tons of credit for that.

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Even in what could be considered a reduced role compared to what he had for the second half of last season, Saric has shown some tangible improvement. Where he fits into the Sixers’ long term plans remains a question mark, but he’s a real player who brings a lot of value to this team.