PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers were able to see Joel Embiid get back on the floor in the preseason finale on Friday as they knocked off the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-110. Playing in his first game since Feb. 22, Embiid played 19 minutes and delivered 14 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and three steals.
Obviously, Embiid has been able to get some reps in the new offensive system coach Nick Nurse and Co. wants to implement in practice, but this is the first time he has been able to get real game reps.
Preseason, sure, but game reps nonetheless as he finds his fit in an up tempo, ball movement based offense for the Sixers.
“I don’t think I should fit in, but I think the way I’ve always wanted to play is everybody touching the ball,” Embiid stated after the win. “The ball moving side to side. People getting off the ball and just playing together and it seems like, so far, it seems like that’s the way it was tonight. Everybody touching the ball. I mean, I’m looking at the stats. Tyrese (Maxey), VJ (Edgecombe), (Quentin) Grimes, 20, 20, 20, and then I was happy about the assists. That’s how I wanna play. That keeps everybody happy, everybody involved, but it’s fun playing that way.”
To Embiid’s point, he shouldn’t exactly “fit in” within an offense. The offense should fit around him, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is a different offensive system. While Embiid will be the focus on the offensive end, one shouldn’t ignore how fast the Sixers played around him. Maxey scored 27 points Edgecombe put up 26, and Grimes had 22 off the bench. That’s the type of offense that can succeed in this NBA and Embiid knows it.
“It’s good,” Embiid continued. “We needed, especially after last year, we needed some youth. Just athletic guys. We struggled rebounding, shooting the ball, transition. I think VJ, Q’s gonna be—I know he played last year, but with this team, he’s gonna be a big boost. Obviously, you still got Paul George coming back. I think he’s gonna add a lot, and obviously, Tyrese taking another step. I feel like we’re in a good spot so it’s about just playing together and winning games.”
It felt like every time Embiid grabbed a rebound, he was looking ahead for the outlet pass. Whether it was Maxey, Edgecombe, Grimes, Dominick Barlow, whoever, he was looking for that type of pass and it led to easy baskets. The fact that the big fella had eight assists is a terrific sign for both him and the Sixers in this new offense.
“I think I just see all these guys,” Embiid added. “I’m here to help. According to a lot of your peers (the media), I’m not even a top 100 basketball player in this league so I guess I just gotta fit in and see where I can help the team win basketball games. So, if that’s playing defense and stretching the floor, that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Embiid has a long memory. One can absolutely believe he has taken notice of the lack of respect for his game following this long offseason. Either way, he is looking to help his athletic teammates get out and run and he will be looking for them every time he grabs a board.
“We got a bunch of athletes,” he finished. “We gotta release them. They’re job is to–they don’t get the board? They gotta run. My job is to find them and, in a way, that also kinda saves me because if we get early baskets and easy baskets, I won’t have to run up and down, and I can just let those guys push the pace, attack, and if we don’t have anything, I always trailed anyways in my career. Then, I can come in and get into the offense.”
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Joel Embiid talks his fit in new offensive system Sixers want to run
