After adding two All-NBA players in the offseason in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, the holdovers on the 76ers roster have no other choice but to adapt. No player has probably done that more than Joel Embiid, but right from the get-go, it is crystal clear that he is struggling with the changes. It has reached a point where his concerns on offense –– primarily when it comes to his shooting –– might no longer just be the typical early-season rust the fans are accustomed to.
Embiid is a known slow starter, but his kickoff to this campaign has been strikingly sluggish. Right now, he is averaging 17.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and four assists per outing on 38.1 percent shooting from the field and a ghastly 10.7 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc. His decline in scoring is not a cause for concern, but his dreadful shooting splits should definitely be a point of alarm.
76ers have to start seriously worrying about Joel Embiid and his shooting
Between managing his load in the regular season and the team needing him to become a more playmaking-oriented offensive hub, Embiid seeing his raw numbers dip is only consequential. It is his shooting, however, that is quickly becoming a major hole for the team despite their hot start.
Philadelphia has loads of scoring options, but the group still needs the former Most Valuable Player to be a dangerous finisher. The frequency of possessions where he has to initiate has diminished, but it is still crucial that he is able to punish defenses for doubling down on his co-stars out on the perimeter and in the driving lanes.
Instead, Embiid has been abysmal. His post scoring is still good enough that the 76ers do not have to worry, but his outside shot has completely abandoned him to start the season. His horrible shooting from beyond the arc has contributed to the team having a meager offensive rating and collective three-point shooting –– two key issues that are surely not sustainable to keep in the fold.
Embiid attributes his shooting struggles to the change in his conditioning over the offseason, and while there may be credence to that, there needs to be urgent changes to be made on the part of the coaching staff, whether that be altering his role in the scoring attack or his positioning in most possessions. After all, things are simply not working as currently configured.
Joel Embiid is doing the small things pretty well right now, so it is baffling that he is struggling in the more noticeable areas. If he can get past this shooting slump with the coaching staff making the necessary tweaks to help him get there, the 76ers will be more foolproof in their title bid.
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