With the Philadelphia 76ers having four All-NBA players in their lineup this season, scoring will be the least of their problems. As such, their stars must make it a priority to contribute on the less glamorous aspects of the game. For Joel Embiid, that means returning to form on the defensive end. Just recently, former NBA veteran-turned-analyst Kendrick Perkins said that the superstar big man should embrace being in the loop for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
In a recent ESPN segment, Perkins singled out Embiid as a controlling factor for the 76ers this season. Aside from pointing out his need to be healthy and available for his team, he said that the former Most Valuable Player should take a step back on offense and lock in on defense. Perk added that Embiid must have the mentality of wanting to be in the DPOY conversation.
In all fairness to Perkins, he definitely got this one right.
Joel Embiid has to refocus on defense for the 76ers this season
Embiid struggled on defense this past season. His limited foot speed and verticals did not really hamper him as a scorer, but his defensive range definitely took a hit. In fact, the Knicks took advantage of this and forced him to whirl around the perimeter as they relentlessly switched him onto their perimeter players to take advantage of his speed deficit.
Seeing New York having success with that scheme will certainly inspire other teams to do the same when facing the 76ers. The NBA is a copycat league, and until Embiid is able to thwart that kind of strategy and render it futile, his defense will be tested moving forward.
At his defensive peak, Embiid was plenty good enough to win Defensive Player of the Year. Now, winning that award when Victor Wembanyama exists is a pretty tall task, but if he is in that conversation this season, that will mean that he has returned to being that defensive anchor for the 76ers.
Philadelphia's star power is usually gauged on the basis of their scoring acuity. However, being a suffocating point-preventing unit will also raise their collective floor and ceiling. Joel Embiid stands on top of that missive, and if he cannot get back or get close to his usual form on that end, the 76ers will be much more susceptible to teams with speedy personnel.
Kendrick Perkins is correct in saying that Joel Embiid's focus this season should be on defense. His dominant scoring already comes naturally to him, so a shift to being a defensive anchor will play to the team's best interests as they eye the championship.
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