ESPN's Tim Bontemps gave an analysis of Joel Embiid this week based on his preseason debut that is sure to resonate with Philadelphia 76ers fans. "I wouldn't say he was back to like, a point a minute guy, but he definitely looked at least like the guy who played against the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs with Bell's Palsy and still had like 30, 12 and six in games," Bontemps said.
I think this assessment would match what most Sixers fans have been saying. Embiid may not be back to the level of dominance of that those in Philadelphia have come to expect, but he is clearly making progress and slowly getting back on track. The 76ers have to take their wins where they can with the injury situations, and this is absolutely a positive.
For this Philadelphia team to reach its potential, Joel has to reclaim his title as one of the best players in the NBA. Last season's results of course came about primarily because Embiid was forced to miss so much time on the court. Seeing him return to anything resembling a normal rhythm in the preseason suggests that he is already getting back to looking closer to his former self.
Bontemps said Joel Embiid looks better than he did last season
It's safe to say the eye test worked in Embiid's favor during his preseason debut. He appeared more mobile than he did last season, was moving decently well, and stepped into his three-point attempts with his usual confidence. I would argue that his body language at this stage of the game matters just as much as anything else, especially in an exhibition game where the stats don't really mean a whole lot.
Of course, it's still early. There is no guarantee that the Sixers' franchise player is going to continue with his trajectory and remain healthy for the majority of this year. With that being said, the only thing we can go off of so far is the lone appearance he's had on the hardwood in the last eight months.
Coming out with a level of viewable confidence and poise becoming of one of the best players in the game, even if he's not back to his regular form just yet, is exactly what everyone in Philadelphia was hoping to see. There's a long way to go, but Embiid may very well be back on a path to his previous level of dominance before long.