The Sixers continue to surge with Joel Embiid playing at an MVP level. Even though they lost to the Wizards last night they are winning games. They may be in sixth place but only 2.5 games out of first. The Eastern Division is up for grabs at this point. Embiid leads the charge with his impressive growth and maturity.
Embiid Leads the Charge
The Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid continues to shine. There really isn’t a lot he can’t do. He can score from any place on the court. Embiid can handle the ball like a guard. He can take games over, and he’s an impressive defender.
If there was a weakness in his game, it was his struggle against double teams and inability to make the right decisions with his passes. Since working with Doc Rivers for a year and a half, Embiid has made great strides. He is averaging a career-high 4.3 assists.
The most impressive aspect of Embiid is he was able to identify what he needed to improve on. He laced his sneakers and got into the gym and worked with his coaches and teammates. The big fella learned to stay patient and when to attack. His growth continues to impress. He understands what has to be done to become a more complete player. He seems razor-focused and grows as a team leader.
No Real Need for Change
After beating the Boston Celtics Friday night, superstar Joel Embiid said “there’s really no urgency to change anything.” This is just less than four weeks to go until the NBA’s trade deadline. This was after scoring 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists in a comfortable 111-99 victory over its old rivals.
The 76ers have played this entire season with All-Star guard Ben Simmons sitting out. Embiid has all rights to feel confident in his play. Philadelphia has won 70% of its games and has outscored its opponents by 6.9 points per 100 possessions when he plays.
The possibility of a Simmons trade has loomed over the 76ers all season. Now talks that a struggling Tobias Harris could be in the same conversation. Embiid said he believes the Sixers are good enough to win with the players they have available to them though he admitted that it would require the 76ers to play near-perfect basketball.
Is This Sustainable?
Philadelphia lost to the Charlotte Hornets last week. A defeat that snapped the 76ers’ seven-game winning streak. The Sixers responded with victories over the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat but dropped a loss to the Washington Wizards last night. The question remains, “Is this sustainable?” Are the 76ers able to play near-perfect basketball down the second half of the season? With Embiid leading the charge anything is possible. But I believe a trade for a useless All-Star guard who does not want to play for this city would make a difference.
Al is one of the two co-creators of Edge of Philly Sports. Al started radio and podcasting in 2012 and covering sports in 2015. A lifelong Philly sports fan since watching the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers with his grandfathers at age 7. Al always looks at the other side of the hot topics and gives his different outlook on those topics. Web and Graphic Design.
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