1. Joel Embiid
Doc Rivers knows what he has in Joel Embiid. For the All-Star center, the tools are there, and so is the motivation. Rivers has expressed such optimism about his new big man that it apparently factors into why he chose to coach in Philly. A huge reason why Sixers ownership flew Rivers out to Philadelphia so quickly after his departure as Clippers head coach is because he has the cachet and people skills to maintain a positive relationship with the 76ers big man. There are so many aspects to Rivers’ potential contribution to the enhancement of Embiid’s game, it’s hard to pick one.
Let’s start with the Ewing factor. During the days when Michael Jordan reigned, the New York Knicks were the main team to dispute the Bulls dynasty. The team, coached by Pat Riley, with a great supporting cast, provided 90s NBA fans with a great rivalry. Doc Rivers was right in the middle of it. He was the primary ball handler for the Knicks and played with Patrick Ewing in his prime.
The parallels to Embiid and Ewing are clear. Two seven-footers with a soft shooting touch and the ability to change the approach of an opponent’s entire offensive strategy. Like the former Knicks center, Embiid can make all penetrators think twice before driving and grab boards at a high rate.
Embiid’s range to the 3-point line exceeds Ewing’s, but that just adds more opportunities to what Rivers can do with the team. The new Sixers coach can elevate the offensive efficiency of Embiid within the Sixers’ sets, adapting his big man’s unique skill set to fit within the current NBA style of play if he chooses. That’s an X’s and O’s outlook though. What Rivers can bring that is a more valuable asset will have a longer lasting impact.
What will pay dividends with the franchise is Doc Rivers’ conviction about Embiid and Simmons being able to thrive together. He pointed out in his initial Philadelphia press conferences that both players can win as a pair.
"“They’ve won 65% of the games they’ve played in. So it clearly works when they play together.” —Doc Rivers"
The new Sixers coach, like Daryl Morey, wants to put to rest any dissenting notions about the cohesion of the two stars. He wants to “change the narrative” surrounding the team’s two stars and elevate their play. If anyone knows about coaching multiple stars, it’s Doc Rivers. He was able to have success in Boston, coaching Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce to a championship in the 2008-09 season. He also went on to have multiple winning seasons with stars like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
The results could be astounding if Rivers is able to help Joel Embiid lead this team. Yes, Simmons will be the point guard and is a highly important factor for the team’s success, but this is Embiid’s team, much like the Hawks were Dominique Wilkins’ team and the Knicks were Patrick Ewing’s team.
Embiid is the player with the longest tenure on the Sixers. He is the most endorsed player and most controversial. He is their best post player and best rim protector. Without Embiid, Doc Rivers knows that the Sixers have no shot to win the East. Ultimately, Rivers will have to rely on Embiid for leadership.
Conversely, Embiid should rely on Rivers’ knowledge and experience to help him become the player he must be to fulfill championship aspirations. Should this two-way street of trust be traveled, the Sixers organization will bring a title to Philadelphia for the first time in almost 40 years.
Agree with the order of players? Did someone else deserve to be on the list. Let us know in the comment section below.