After much anticipation, the 76ers finally took the floor this season and capped the opening night with a huge victory on the road over the Knicks. Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown led the scoring for Philadelphia while Joel Embiid struggled from the floor. That being said, not a single soul on the planet should think that the superstar center was a net negative for the team. After all, he did stand out on the defensive end.
Embiid finished the night with just 15 points on four of 15 shooting from the field and coughed the ball over four times, but he was second on the team with a +13 plus/minus. The main reason for that is his activity on defense for the 76ers, playing the role of anchor and recapturing his former brilliance as a defensive anchor for Philly.
Joel Embiid's All-Defensive Team agenda will boost 76ers' title chances
The former MVP corralled 11 rebounds while recording three blocks and a couple of steals to his name, easily standing out as the best defensive player on the floor for both teams. After the game, he was asked about a defensive sequence where he swatted a dunk attempt by Andre Drummond, wagging his finger in the end.
Embiid said that he wants to return to being an All-Defense Team caliber defender this season, which he was a part of on three separate occasions, although his last inclusion came more than five years ago in 2021.
With the 76ers placing so much burden on Embiid on offense, the superstar has moved away from primarily focusing on defense. Well, with the team touting a ton of firepower on the scoring end, there is a reduced need for him to be an elite scorer. For this squad to maximize its championship potential, a commitment on defense will be key, and Embiid doubling down on being that anchor for the group will be the first step to making them as foolproof as possible.
Over the last few years, Embiid's declining physicals have made him more exploitable on defense, especially when dealing with teams boasting quicker and smaller personnel. Now, after having worked a lot on his body over the summer, he should be able to hold his ground more effectively and be less susceptible to teams specifically scheming against him, like the Knicks during their last playoff run.
At his peak, Joel Embiid was a strong contender for Defensive Player of the Year in multiple seasons. While he does not necessarily have to be in actual contention for the award, the 76ers would definitely benefit from him returning to being one of the best stoppers in the league.
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