As expected, the Philadelphia 76ers have had to deal with the intermitten absences of Joel Embiid once again. It definitely will not surprise anyone at this point, but the former Most Valuable Player had already missed the majority of the games so far due to injury management and a setback on his right knee.
Yet the bigger concern when it comes to Embiid does not strictly stem from the fact that he is still not 100 percent healthy. Many have noticed that the superstar’s playing style has taken a facelift, which is concurrent with the drastic shift in the way the 76ers operate on the floor even with him in the equation.
Tyrese Maxey is now the man in Philly, with Embiid relegated into Robin duty. At this juncture, that is far from an undesirable dynamic to have, but it does reflect something about Embiid which fans can no longer deny and which the team must come to terms with moving forward.
Zach Lowe points out a concerning and irreversible fact about Joel Embiid
According to longtime NBA analyst Zach Lowe, Embiid is not even moving well and his physicals do not look good in the slightest. He is no longer looking for contact and it shows in games, pointing to his drastic decline as a rebounder as a major red flag.
True enough, Embiid is averaging just 5.3 rebounds per game, which is easily a career-low mark for him. He has always been one of the best board-crashers in the league, and his sudden lack of acuity when it comes to corralling rebounds is most certainly an indication of his propensity to avoid contact, which naturally comes in view of the litany of injuries he’s had to endure and brave through.
Granted, Embiid is still a proficient post operator. However, getting into his spots has likewise become more difficult, and more often than not, he has been content going up for jumpers instead of forcing his way into the post like he often does.
These are clear signs that Embiid’s body is no longer in a condition that would be able to withstand the style of play he has grown accustomed to and with which he has dominated the league. In fact, one can tenably say that his talent has become way too robust for his body.
Sure, this is an unfortunate development for Joel Embiid. However, the 76ers are not hopeless, either. As long as the superstar and the team strike a better balance between preserving his body and allowing him to discover ways to still be effective in his new, streamlined role, this partnership could still traverse a pleasant track.