Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is one of the top players in basketball, regardless of position. He can score so easily whether he’s in the paint on the low block or he’s knocking down that smooth jumper of his at the top of the key.
Due to his dominance as a scorer, opposing teams have to send waves of defenders at him in order to slow him down. In the past, those strategies would work as he was not able to react to those double teams correctly.
Under new coach Doc Rivers, there has been a marked improvement and while it helps to have shooters around him to kick out to now, he still had to make those improvements on his own.
Rivers joined Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on All The Smoke and he discussed his conversations with Embiid on overcoming those double teams:
I thought he was good. I’m not gonna lie, like I thought he was really, really good, but I don’t know how you stop him when he gets it in this place without double-teaming him. That’s what teams are doing and so what we had to do was get him comfortable with being double-teamed and get him to understand and having the mindset, if you double team me, we’re gonna score. If you don’t double team me, we’re gonna score, right, and he has that mindset now. You can see it. This the first time he invites double teams. Now, remember (Charles) Barkley would be like come on guys, come on over here. He’s doing that now where in our first conversations, it was hilarious. All he talked about, ‘you know, they’re gonna double team me?’ And I was like yeah bro that’s what they should do!
Doc hit @Matt_Barnes22 with the “Listen……” about Embiid 🤣
Coach talked about Jo as the “Go-To” guy & having an “if you double me, we’re gonna score. If you don’t double me, we’re still gonna score” mindset.
Says 21 is welcoming doubles & having defined roles is helping. pic.twitter.com/pEMPpevAuJ
— Brock Landes (@LandesBrock) February 5, 2021
For the Sixers to truly contend for a championship, they will need him to continue making these improvements and, most importantly, stay healthy. Philadelphia’s chances all depend on him going forward.
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