For the Philadelphia 76ers to really take that next step and compete for an NBA championship on a serious level, they will need Joel Embiid to take the next step in his development. He is the team’s best player and it is on him to take the Sixes to where they want to go.
After a few games where he had some really bad turnover issues, Embiid has toned it down a bit and it has helped the team win a few more games. At practice on Tuesday, the big man got back to work and he had a post-practice workout with Drew Hanlen to continue his work in the post and reacting to double teams.
“The main thing about being in the post is all about balance and the whole season, I feel like, my balance has been off,” said Embiid. “You’ve got to stay low so you’re ready for anything. When you stay high, that’s when you turn the ball over and I can see every time I’m high, it happens all the time. It’s all about balance and staying low and being decisive.”
Embiid is putting in some post-practice work playing/finishing through contact: pic.twitter.com/gItFs64lFS
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) December 17, 2019
Embiid had a two-game stretch recently against the Washington Wizards and the Toronto Raptors where he totaled 15 turnovers and it was due to both a lack of awareness and what he believes it was him being too high in the post. His 3.3 turnovers per game are a career-low, but he wants to continue to get better against the constant pressure he receives in order to prepare for the playoffs
“This year, I’ve been facing up almost every single time,” said the big man. “It’s also because they double team me so every time I catch the ball I try to see what the defense is going to do. If I don’t have two feet in the paint, I always face up. It’s all about making quick moves. They’ve been doubling and triple-teaming me all season so I’ve got to get used to it. It’s going to be like that in the postseason, so I’ve got to get used to it.”
It’s hard to really see where the doubles are coming and it’s an area where Embiid says he doesn’t know where they are coming from. He has got to improve in that area for the Sixes to move forward in the playoffs.
“No. Last year they were doubling off of Ben (Simmons), mostly this year, they’ve been doing the same, but they just come off of anybody so you don’t really know where it’s coming from,” he said. “You just got to take your time, adjust, and make the right plays.”
Embiid and the Sixers will return to the floor on Wednesday when they host the Miami Heat. [lawrence-related id=21551,21543,21534]