Despite their “sweep” in the first round of the playoffs, the Sixers preferred to change coach and direction than hard core. The franchise wants to believe in the potential of its All-Star duo, with a Ben Simmons who was further injured for the postseason, and who is only 24 years old, while Joel Embiid is only two years older.
The time seems long for some since the beginning of the “Process”, but Philly wants to surround this duo rather than breaking it. Arrived a year and a half ago, Tobias Harris must establish himself as this high level third blade, skilful from afar like rookies Seth Curry and Terrance Ferguson, who will hide the duo’s concerns in this area. New coach Doc Rivers brings with him a lot of experience and travels from Los Angeles with Dwight Howard, whom he recovered after his first league title.
The pivot has restored his image to the Lakers and he arrives in Pennsylvania to play mentors. With a perfect example to guide Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to the top: LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
“When you are ready to sacrifice yourself, good things happen for you in general”
According to him, it all starts with the agreement. “I watched AD and LeBron, everything they did together. They worked together, they ate together, they cycled together, we called them brothers. They were together all the time ” raconte Dwight Howard. “I’m like, ‘Okay, Ben and Joel have to be like that, they have to know each other so much on and off the pitch that it has to be natural when they play.’ “
Both players must know how to sacrifice themselves for each other, and know when to do so. “Ok, Jo needs the ball, I’ll try to give him an easy basket. Ben is frustrated? Let me put up a screen for him, so I can give him two-three dunks or shots near the circle to revive the machine. When you are ready to sacrifice yourself, good things happen for you in general ” describes the new sage. “I saw this with LeBron. Even when he was in triple-doubles, he made sure to give AD some balls. I just think when you have two guys who are willing to do whatever it takes to win it lifts the morale of the team. “
Despite their young age, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are several times All-Stars and have been part of the All-NBA Teams: they have proven themselves statistically, it is now collectively that they are expected.
“I see this for Ben and Jo. These two guys together, putting their egos and pride aside, and saying, ‘Hey, we’re both here on the same mission: to win a title.’ It starts and it ends with ‘us’. I saw this with LeBron and AD. They put everything on their shoulders. They know they have players around, but they said it starts with them, that they have to be on the same page all the time. They really did a good job at that level. “
“Joel has a good chance to be one of the best in history at his post”
Between his departure from Orlando, the aborted “Big Four” of the Lakers, his decline in Houston, and his rebirth last year, the 1st choice of Draft 2004, which will celebrate his 35th birthday on Monday with his first league title, knows his subject.
“I think I’ve always wanted to win, to have this winning culture where nothing matters except the title. It’s something I would have liked to tell myself when I was younger. A career passes quickly so you have to take advantage of every moment, every game. I think the kids we have can’t take anything for granted because you never know what can happen in an NBA career. You have to be thoroughly in the moments when you can win, be successful, in a great team, with a good atmosphere. ”
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are likely to hear these callbacks often throughout the season, especially the second he’ll be working with in the racket.
“I’m going to push him every day to think he’s the best, in training, in bodybuilding, in matches. He has a good chance to be one of the best in history at his post. I want to help him on and off the pitch. I really believe in him, in his talent, in what he can accomplish, and I want to help him reach the top. “
| Dwight Howard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2004-05 | ENT | 82 | 33 | 52.0 | 0.0 | 67.1 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 10.0 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 12.0 |
| 2005-06 | ENT | 82 | 37 | 53.1 | 0.0 | 59.5 | 3.5 | 9.0 | 12.5 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 15.8 |
| 2006-07 | ENT | 82 | 37 | 60.3 | 50.0 | 58.6 | 3.5 | 8.8 | 12.3 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 17.6 |
| 2007-08 | ENT | 82 | 38 | 59.9 | 0.0 | 59.0 | 3.4 | 10.8 | 14.2 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 20.7 |
| 2008-09 | ENT | 79 | 36 | 57.2 | 0.0 | 59.4 | 4.3 | 9.6 | 13.8 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 20.6 |
| 2009-10 | ENT | 82 | 35 | 61.2 | 0.0 | 59.2 | 3.5 | 9.7 | 13.2 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 18.3 |
| 2010-11 | ENT | 78 | 38 | 59.3 | 0.0 | 59.6 | 4.0 | 10.1 | 14.1 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 22.9 |
| 2011-12 | ENT | 54 | 38 | 57.3 | 0.0 | 49.1 | 3.7 | 10.8 | 14.5 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 20.6 |
| 2012-13 | LAL | 76 | 36 | 57.8 | 16.7 | 49.2 | 3.3 | 9.1 | 12.4 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 17.1 |
| 2013-14 | HOU | 71 | 34 | 59.1 | 28.6 | 54.7 | 3.3 | 8.9 | 12.2 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 18.3 |
| 2014-15 | HOU | 41 | 30 | 59.3 | 50.0 | 52.8 | 2.7 | 7.8 | 10.5 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 15.8 |
| 2015-16 | HOU | 71 | 32 | 62.0 | 0.0 | 48.9 | 3.4 | 8.4 | 11.8 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 13.8 |
| 2016-17 | ATL | 74 | 30 | 63.3 | 0.0 | 53.3 | 4.0 | 8.7 | 12.7 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 13.5 |
| 2017-18 | NO | 81 | 30 | 55.5 | 14.3 | 57.4 | 3.2 | 9.4 | 12.5 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 16.6 |
| 2018-19 | WAS | 9 | 26 | 62.3 | 0.0 | 60.4 | 2.7 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 0.4 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 12.8 |
| 2019-20 | LAL | 69 | 19 | 72.9 | 60.0 | 51.4 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 7.4 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 7.5 |
| Total | 1113 | 34 | 58.6 | 13.2 | 56.5 | 3.5 | 8.9 | 12.3 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 16.7 | |
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