On Tuesday, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid made his long-awaited season debut against the New York Knicks. His rust was clear in Philadelphia’s 12-point loss. Embiid played just 26 minutes as he’s ramping up to the speed of NBA basketball once again. Still, tracking his progression brings some much-needed intrigue to an otherwise drab Sixers season.
They’re now 2-8, bottom-feeding at 14th in the East. Without Embiid or Paul George around much of the season, Tyrese Maxey’s inefficiency dropped as a result of his massive offensive load. Just as George returned to the court, Maxey went down with an injury. Jared McCain’s emergence is a promising story, but the Sixers need a major spark.
Embiid’s 13 points (2-of-11 shooting, 44.8 percent true shooting), three boards and five assists made it clear he’s still searching for peak form. He’s not physically ready to dominate as a scorer like the Sixers require. Against New York, he attempted just two shots in the paint and converted one of them. New York did well to deny Embiid deep catches, which forced him into tougher jumpers.
While his scoring sharpens, Embiid’s playmaking will help buoy Philadelphia’s 28th-ranked offense. He tossed out five assists, acting as a dribble-handoff hub and post passer. On the season, the Sixers’ assist rate is 26th league-wide (56.2%). This game featured a paltry 19 assists, though, which says plenty about their lack of playmaking talent outside of Embiid (and Maxey’s current absence).
Joel’s first play of the season, Sixers use him as a decoy and catch Jalen Brunson sleeping on the weak side cross screen. pic.twitter.com/WS4ImN6XAF
— Dan Olinger (@dan_olinger) November 13, 2024
Sixers run Chicago/Zoom action for Jared McCain on his first touch of the game, and he hits the wide open pull-up 3. pic.twitter.com/7VGMOexyHB
— Dan Olinger (@dan_olinger) November 13, 2024
More than his scoring, Embiid’s defense has suffered most from his lack of, or unwillingness to, move on the perimeter. He rotated to block Jalen Brunson in the fourth quarter, but Embiid didn’t move around much on defense. It’s understandable, given his adjustment back to NBA action, but the Knicks easily sent cutters and drivers in his area to exploit his stagnant ways.
Yet even considering his struggles, Philadelphia’s defense improved by six points per 100 possessions with Embiid on the floor against New York. His size alone is a major deterrent and his presence helps Andre Drummond return to a better-suited bench role. Its defense craters this season with Drummond on the floor, allowing over 120 points per 100 possessions.
Embiid’s return helps everyone else play with more energy, which stems from a reduced offensive load. His presence should help players like Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin and Jared McCain play with verve. Playing off of Embiid’s gravity, George dropped 29 points on 11 3-point attempts.
“Horns Chin” action from the Sixers.
Great screen from Lowry to take KAT out, OG has to help in toward Embiid, and PG hits the open corner three. pic.twitter.com/vOuFP26JKU
— Dan Olinger (@dan_olinger) November 13, 2024
George has struggled to score efficiently as the primary option this season (53.8 percent true shooting), so Embiid’s reinsertion to the lineup will ease his burden. Maxey’s eventual return will only benefit this further, and he’ll enjoy a simpler offensive role as well.
But it’s reasonable to worry about Embiid’s current impact. The Sixers hold the league’s second-worst record. They’re just 1.5 games removed from a Play-In slot, but they must begin winning at some point. Without Embiid nearing his full power level, it’s easy to see their skid continue.
The schedule doesn’t let up either yet. They face the 12-0 Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. November does offer some matchups against lesser opponents or fellow injury depleted teams, so they’ll have to capitalize and begin climbing the ranks of the downtrodden East. Embiid working toward superstar levels would help those efforts greatly.
We should expect him to improve, even if it’s not MVP-level play. Anything close will immediately vault the Sixers into playoff relevance. How quickly that happens may determine Philadelphia’s fate this season and beyond.
