The Philadelphia 76ers are in a tough spot as they begin training camp to prepare for the 2021-22 season on Tuesday. They will be heading into the new season without the services of 25-year old 3-time All-Star Ben Simmons and there will be more pressure on others to produce.
It’s obvious that this is Joel Embiid’s team and Simmons is not happy with that. Philadelphia has been driving their offensive system through Embiid, as they should, and the All-Star guard does not want that. Therefore, Simmons believes his partnership with Embiid has run its course and gone as far as it can.
Philadelphia will be losing an elite defender and playmaker in Simmons and the Sixers will have to rely even more on Embiid to step up and produce. He seems as if he is more than ready for it after finishing as the MVP runner-up in 2021.
“How many people have told me to ‘Oh! Don’t shoot 3s!’ every single time I’m shooting a 3?” said Embiid on Monday. “This year, I’m thinking about freaking shooting more 3s. I don’t care, because that’s what’s going to help the team. Last year, I thought what didn’t help us a lot, we didn’t shoot a lot of 3s. People might have different views on that, but I think it goes a long way so that’s something I’m gonna do.”
Embiid took 3.0 triples in the 2020-21 season and he shot 37.7% on those attempts from deep. With a Simmons trade being imminent, the big fella will definitely have to step up and provide even more for this team. He is more than ready for the challenge.
“I don’t mind,” said Embiid. “I love it. I love carrying the team on both ends and I think that’s what probably makes me special because I do it on both plants. That’s where it comes in also taking care of my body, being in the best shape of my life, and because from that, I can do both and not really be tired because I’m doing more offensively or more defensively. I think for me, it’s all about just being the best shape of my life and just being active.”
Simmons did finish as the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 finishing behind Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert so Philadelphia will be losing a special defender who can defend any position. However, Embiid is not too worried about losing Simmons as long as he is out there.
“I’ve always believed that, and you can look at the numbers, advanced numbers, and defensive metrics and all that stuff, when you look at it, it does not matter was on the floor with me, I have always been able to be the anchor of the defense,” he stated. “You’re behind all the guards and everybody guarding so you call on out plays and stuff. I have aspirations to become the Defensive Player of the Year. I think, for me personally, I just got to be more active.”
The Sixers will definitely look different when the season begins on Oct. 20, but as long as Embiid is out there, Philadelphia will have a chance to retain their success.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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