Philadelphia 76ers: Focus on Joel Embiid’s reading of double teams

The Philadelphia 76ers have focused on Joel Embiid’s biggest swing skill in Orlando.

There’s a debate to be had about whether or not Joel Embiid can be the true No. 1 option on a championship roster. Even for someone as uniquely dominant as Embiid, the league has mostly evolved past players of his archetype. At least when it comes to top-tier, championship-winning superstars.

As far as this iteration of the Philadelphia 76ers is concerned, however, any hypothetical championship run starts and ends with Embiid. If the Sixers are going to contend for a title, it will need to involve Embiid at his peak.

Despite the constant conversation around Ben Simmons and his jumper, there’s no question about whose team this is. Orlando presents a prime opportunity for a healthy and rested Embiid to unleash the entirety of his skill set in games that matter.

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Per ESPN, the Sixers have used practices in Orlando to establish Embiid as a go-to option late in games. That’s important, because Philadelphia doesn’t have much of a closing threat outside Embiid. You can vouch for Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson — you can even bring up Shake Milton — but in the playoffs, the best players need to make things happen. Embiid is the Sixers’ best player, and it inevitably falls on his plate in high-leverage moments.

"“What is happening [on his post-ups] in the playoffs, it’s because they go at him more repetitively in a seven-game series. It’s that heightened awareness for an NBA first-team All-Star. And, so I think this camp, one of the things I have been doing is damn near every time he catches it, we’re coming [with a double-team]. … He’s done a really good job passing out of it. And so whether they come at him, whether he’s going to be able to architect a quarterback mentality out of that post-up or whether he’s just going to play bully ball and go dunk and score, I think that we’re moving toward the reads that are coming.” — Brett Brown"

Of all the comments Brown has made since the Sixers arrived in Orlando, this is among the most significant. He’s dead-on. If Philadelphia is to maximize the halfcourt offense late in games, Embiid will need to improve his reading of double teams.

This is perhaps Embiid’s biggest swing skill. He’s a powerful presence in the paint. No player can force his way to the free-throw line more effortlessly than Embiid. His hulking frame, in addition to his proclivity to attack, is normally enough to compromise even the best defenders.

When Embiid compromises a defender, the natural reaction is to bring another. And doubles are thrown his direction at a near-constant rate, even if the regular season. If Embiid touches the ball inside 10 feet of the rim, you can expect multiple defenders to show face.

Embiid’s bugaboo has long been his ability to handle doubles. Black hole syndrome has plagued Embiid in the past — far too often, when he has made up his mind to score he forgets all other options. The result is far too many turnovers or forced shots in traffic.

The concept of a double team involves weakening one area of the defensive coverage to strengthen another. If Embiid can become a more willing and aware passer — if he can exploit the weakened areas of the court — Philadelphia’s offense will have a much easier time when the game slows down.

On the season, Embiid is averaging 3.1 assists per game — the lowest mark since his rookie season. Embiid should averaged well north of three assists per game considering the attention he draws inside. Even if the Sixers lack shooters, his ability to pressure the rim creates a ton of open looks on the perimeter. Philadelphia needs him to better realize those open looks.

It’s clear the Sixers’ priorities are in the right place. The conversation around this team in Orlando has revolved heavily around Ben Simmons and Shake Milton, but it’s Embiid who will make or break Philadelphia’s title pursuit. He’s the end-all, be-all for this team. He’s the Zeus to the Sixers’ Olympus. The engine to the Sixers’ car. The money to the Sixers’ capitalism.

Joel Embiid is a top-10 player to some. Top-10 players need to finish games. That the top priority for Philadelphia.