The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid perfect counter to Boston

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during the game against the Miami Heat in game five of round one of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center 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. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during the game against the Miami Heat in game five of round one of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center 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. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 24: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up wearing a mask before the game against the Miami Heat in game five of round one of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center 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. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 24: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up wearing a mask before the game against the Miami Heat in game five of round one of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center 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. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

Watch Embiid go

When the Philadelphia 76ers ran offense against the Miami Heat, Embiid often set up at the perimeter. That forced Miami to pull Hassan Whiteside out to the perimeter and neutralize his back-to-the-basket-blocking. Now, that same tactic will disrupt the Boston Celtics attempts to defend Joel Embiid. How so?

With Embiid and point guard Ben Simmons on the court simultaneously, the Celtics begin to run out of big bodies pretty quickly. Boston played power forward Semi Ojeleye on Giannis Antetokounmpo, so you can expect the same strategy against Ben Simmons. And you can expect Aron Baynes to focus on Embiid.  So what do the Celtics do if the 76ers run either Dario Saric or Ersan Ilyasova to the basket?  Good question, and one the Celtics must answer.

Go Go Joel Embiid

The Celtics are exhausted. They just played a very demanding seven game series against the 7-seed Milwaukee Bucks. And they pushed a ton of minutes against far fewer players. Now they must take on the fresh and rested Philadelphia 76ers.

The Bucks are a slow paced team. The Philadelphia 76ers are much-quicker paced team that has continued to improve all season long. So why is Embiid the key?