The Philadelphia 76ers are preparing for what they hope will be a successful 2020-21 season. The team made a few big additions to the roster that should improve their play on the floor such as bringing in shooters and they also added the bench.
One of those additions was Dwight Howard who is expected to help the team when Joel Embiid goes to the bench. The Sixers have been in need of a legitimate backup big man and they certainly found one in Howard.
The veteran big man has accomplished a lot in his 16 years in the league and he is expected to provide good production for Philadelphia and one of the things that the team expects is for him to bring a defensive presence. He and Embiid plan to team up to form a solid defensive tandem that should help the guards out on the perimeter as well.
“I think it’d be great for our guards,” Howard says. “They know that they can get up and pressure their men because Joel is a big body. He takes up a lot of space in the paint so he can get to a lot of shots and if he doesn’t block them he’s altering the shots and just being a big presence so it starts with him.”
In the past, when Embiid goes to the bench, teams would be able to see the opportunity and they would feast on it by attacking the paint. Philadelphia would trot out the likes of Amir Johnson and Kyle O’Quinn, but Howard is a big upgrade.
“Then with me coming in the game, it’s the same thing,” the veteran added. “Playing with a lot of intensity, aggressiveness, physical, very physical on the pick-and-rolls and stuff like that. I think just with me and him in the backline defense, it’s going to be tough for guys to get to the paint and score over the both of us.”
The bench unit has been something that has been a thorn in Philadelphia’s side in the past, but if they can get the bench unit all set to go, then it will make a big difference for their plans in the upcoming season. [lawrence-related id=40349,40343,40333]