Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid is operating at top form

The Philadelphia 76ers have gotten peak production from Joel Embiid in Orlando.

There is no NBA team more compulsively frustrating than the Philadelphia 76ers. The front office is a mess, the roster is a mess, and the coach’s ability is a daily topic of debate. The Sixers are an agonizing 1-1 so far in Orlando.

On paper, a loss to Indiana in the midst of T.J. Warren’s blitzkrieg isn’t terrible. The win over San Antonio wasn’t anything to write home about, but Shake Milton’s game-winner was a season-defining moment for an important young piece. The Sixers haven’t been bad. And yet it feels like Philadelphia is slipping into the void, and there’s no clear answer for how to pull them out.

The Sixers have not figured it out offensively, nor has the defense held up in Orlando. Philadelphia has given up an average of 124.5 points across two games. A small sample size, and in line with the general sloppiness of defenses league-wide so far, but still concerning when you consider the Sixers’ dependence on quality defense.

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A lot of blame can be assigned to a lot of people. The front office put together a roster designed to thrive in 1990, not 2020. Brett Brown has certainly not helped his case, even if I’m hesitant to label him a “bad coach.” He’s not. But has his creativity run dry in Philadelphia? Maybe. And the players, of course. Every player except Joel Embiid.

Embiid has been the Sixers’ beacon of hope in the bubble. While Philadelphia has looked every bit the unsolvable equation it was before the break, Embiid has managed to salvage optimism. Not much optimism, but optimism no less. He’s a top-10 player operating in top-10 form.

I’ve said this on The Sixer Sense Podcast in the past: it’s fair to question if Joel Embiid can, stylistically, hold up as the best player on a championship team. But the Sixers need him to. The Sixers don’t have anyone else who can aptly lead a title run. Not Ben Simmons, and certainly not Tobias Harris. If the Sixers are going to compete, it begins and ends with Embiid.

In Orlando, we have seen the version of Embiid that can lead a serious push in the Eastern Conference. He has sharply read double teams, put constant pressure on the rim, and done his duty on defense. Embiid is averaging 34.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks on 60 percent shooting through two games. Not to mention 12.0 free throw attempts per game.

The Pacers and Spurs were uniquely favorable matchups for Embiid, but so are many of the upcoming games. The Sixers are also slated to face Boston or Miami in the first round — two teams that have undersized starting centers. The Celtics especially have struggled to contain dominant offensive centers this season.

If Embiid can handle the swarm of doubles from smaller, quicker defensive teams, it bodes well for his composure in high-pressure postseason basketball. He has willingly passed out of tight spaces, while still maintaining his natural proclivity to attack each and every lane to the rim.

Passing has always been the next step in Embiid’s progression. No one draws attention in the post comparable to the attention Embiid draws. If he can consistently punish defenders for leaving their primary assignments, it will make Philadelphia near-impossible to stop.

The next step for Philadelphia, of course, is making sure Embiid’s improved passing instincts pay off. Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson, Shake Milton — even Ben Simmons. They all need to have quick triggers behind the 3-point line. They need to space the floor and take advantage of the open shots Embiid creates by simply occupying the paint.

Case and point: Milton’s game-winning 3 against San Antonio. The defense crowds Embiid, Dejounte Murray steps away from the inbounding Milton, and the result is a clean look in the game’s final seconds. The assist went to Al Horford, but Embiid created the shot.

The Sixers have a pronounced luxury in Embiid, who despite old-school tendencies, is oddly suited to terrorizing modern defenses. Not many teams have the combination of individual defensive talent and team awareness to combat Embiid at his peak. And even the elite defenses are often compromised by the attention Embiid requires. If he is taking full advantage of that attention, the Sixers need to cash in. The supporting cast has to do its part.

Philadelphia has struggled through two games in Orlando in spite of Embiid, who has performed at nothing short of superstar level. The hesitant offense of other starters — combined with no-shows from the bench and a painfully disinterested disposition on defense — has sentenced Philadelphia to sluggish nights. The Sixers have narrowly split two very winnable games.

Embiid has shown up, and barring injury, I expect him to continue showing up. It’s clear he’s in good shape and good spirits. The Sixers have the top-end talent to make noise. It’s a matter of rallying around Embiid, shedding the halfhearted performances, and tapping into the chemistry Philadelphia worked hard to build over the break.

There’s still hope for Philadelphia because of Embiid. He’s the Sixers’ lifeblood — the player who can salvage a lost season. The Sixers have squandered Embiid’s talent for three years. This is as good a time as any to reverse that narrative and elevate alongside him.