The Philadelphia 76ers have a pretty interesting storyline surrounding them in training camp. With their entire projected starting five expected to show up at a point during the preseason, people are curious to see how their platoon of stars will mesh on the offensive end. Well, to give a hint as to how they intend to go about things, Nick Nurse recently bared that the team plans on having Joel Embiid move around the floor with more frequency this season, suggesting a much-needed change for the way the big man operates.
Now, that is one change that is especially needed now, given how the 76ers are constructed. Embiid remains the best one-on-one scoring option the team has, which is a rich statement to make given that they have high-octane scorers around him. And if the plan is to have him take on a less static role on offense, the team should finally be able to pick up the pace on that end.
The 76ers want Joel Embiid to move more on offense this season
Pace is one area where Philly has lagged behind in recent years. For the most part, the 76ers have been content operating as a half-court team, a deliberate style of play heavily influenced by the need to accommodate the isolation scoring prowess of Joel Embiid and, to an extent, Tyrese Maxey.
However, with Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and VJ Edgecombe surrounding them, the 76ers have the outfit of a more dynamic squad that can be highly unpredictable for opposing defenses. Picking up the pace will only make their scoring attack harder to guard, and getting Embiid to commit to that switch-up is the best way to push that change.
Embiid's physicals have declined, but he still moves gracefully enough to be a catalyst for the 76ers on the break. He remains a capable rebounder who can pass the rock better than most big men. The team can certainly take advantage of his skills on those fronts to kickstart more fast-break opportunities and terrify opposing defenses, which will naturally prefer forcing the team to play in the half-court more.
Overall, this is a great plan for Joel Embiid and the team as a whole. The 76ers cannot limit the possibilities with their newly bolstered core by playing at a glacial pace when Joel Embiid is on the floor. Speeding things up on offense is the way to go, and for a team as talented as they are, will be downright scary for the rest of the league if they can adapt well to this much-needed change.
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