Sixers: How team can replace Ben Simmons’ defensive impact

How Sixers can replace Ben Simmons defensively: Embiid’s consistency

Embiid has been the anchor of the team’s defense since his first season with the Sixers. As the team’s center, he’s the most impactful defensive player according to every advanced metric that exists, and when he turns up the defensive intensity — as he does every postseason — Embiid is a force to be reckoned with. In the playoffs over the past three seasons, he’s had a higher dLEBRON than any other player in the league.

Embiid has already demonstrated ability as an elite defender. Where he’ll have to take a step forward, though, is in his consistency. It’ll be challenging for Embiid to carry the load on both offense, where he averaged over 28 points per game last season as one of the best scorers in the league, and defense, where he’ll be asked to anchor an elite defense.

Embiid, though, has expressed readiness for this challenge. In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, the big man said that he aspires to win Defensive Player of the Year and addressed concerns about his regular-season intensity: “For me, personally, I just got to be more active. It’s hard to do because, offensively, I’m also asked to do a lot. And I don’t mind.”

While Embiid’s defensive impact can help mitigate some of the drop-off once Simmons departs, he can’t guard stars like Damian Lillard or Devin Booker on the perimeter the way Simmons could. That’s where the second Sixer star defender who’s been waiting in (and on) the wings comes in: Matisse Thybulle.