The Philadelphia 76ers still need Joel Embiid. Let’s get that out of the way. Despite Tyrese Maxey emerging as an All-NBA caliber player early in the season and rookie star VJ Edgecombe even being better than advertised, the former Most Valuable Player is still plenty good enough to give the team some advantages they cannot just get from anyone else.
Save for his first game where he turned in a rough outing, Embiid has played very well for the 76ers. He has averaged 22.5 points per game over his last couple of games despite playing just under 22 minutes oer contest. Clearly, his scoring prowess is still there, and opposing defenses still have to figure out how to slow down the superstar sine he cannot be stopped entirely.
However, scoring has been the only thing where he has stood out so far. Embiid has not given the team much elsewhere, and given his current status, it is likely that this will be the status quo for the team moving forward.
The 76ers have to accept that Joel Embiid cannot do the little things anymore
Embiid can no longer be banked on to supply a heavy dose of the little things the 76ers need, such as rebounding. The 31-year-old has logged just five rebounds per game so far, easily the worst mark in his career, and even his per-36 minutes numbers reflect the same low point.
With his jumping ability heavily nerfed, it is likely that the seven-time All-Star will average close to that number as his stint with the franchise progresses. The coaching staff will have to factor that in and make sure that there is always someone who can corral rebounds for the team when Embiid is on the floor.
Another area where Embiid has struggled is deterring shots at the rim. It is also something that be tossed up to his lack of vertical presence, and it is likewise no longer viable for him to constantly absorb contact inside, especially while in suspense above the ground.
Defense has been a struggle for the 76ers despite their winning streak. They have the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league at this early juncture, while also being below-average in opponent points in the paint per outing. Both perimeter and paint defense have been headaches thus far, and Embiid is no longer a player who can be tabbed as an anchor on that end.
Moving forward, the 76ers will need to embrace this streamlined version of Joel Embiid. He will always be a massive force on offense thanks to his innate skill and finesse, but it is the other things that do not always show up in the score sheet where his injury condition will be most reflected.