The Philadelphia 76ers are winning more consistently, and part of that is due to how Joel Embiid is playing. Number 21 is starting to score in bunches more, yes, but he's also giving up the ball quicker when needed and playing a style that benefits the other best players on this roster.
Tyrese Maxey is having an All-NBA caliber year, while VJ Edgecombe is making a strong case to be considered among the finalists for the Rookie of the Year award. It would be the easiest thing for Embiid to want to be ball-dominant and try to get back to his MVP form that way, but he's been playing very unselfish basketball instead.
Embiid is totally comfortable and happy to make quick outlet passes and throw the ball ahead to Maxey or Edgecombe to help produce quick points in transition. And when he does recieve the ball himself in a half-court setting, he's typically been making a quick decision to either put up a shot or make a pass within a couple seconds, not hogging the ball at all and keeping the offense flowing.
This style of play has clearly changed the texture of Philadelphia’s offense. The ball is moving with purpose and the Sixers don't have to rely on difficult late-clock bailouts as often. Embiid’s willingness to trust the read has made the entire unit harder to guard, especially when defenses load up early to take the ball out of his hands.
Joel Embiid is playing the right way and elevating the 76ers
That's allowed Maxey to fully flourish as the central engine of the 76ers' attack. With Embiid drawing attention without monopolizing touches, Maxey has space to attack downhill and dictate the overall offensive tempo. The same is true for Edgecombe, who has benefited from simplified reads and open-floor opportunities that play directly to his athleticism and confidence. All that is a byproduct of Joel setting the right tone.
This has created some ripple effects defensively, too. When the offense flows, Philadelphia is able to get back and set its defense more consistently after making their opponents go get the ball out of the net. Embiid’s presence in the paint still anchors everything, but the Sixers have looked more connected overall because they're not scrambling after empty possessions or rushed shots nearly as often.
This version of Embiid isn't chasing any individual accolades, and that actually might be more scary for opponents of the Sixers. He's certainly still capable of taking over games when needed, but the difference is that he now picks those moments instead of forcing them.
For Philadelphia, this is the kind of mentality tweak that could really change how far this team can go. When the best player on the team buys into collective success, everything else tends to fall into place.