Without making noise, and without forcing, Joel Embiid is currently having a solid start to the season with Philadelphia. In three games (for two wins) and 30 minutes of play, the Cameroonian turns to “only” 21.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks on average. All at 47% on shots, 46% on 3-pointers and 72% on free throws.
But what most appeals to Joel Embiid’s stats line is undoubtedly his 5.0 assists distributed per game. Less scorer than usual until now, the All-Star pivot turns into a real hub of the Sixers, in the absence of Ben Simmons, usually responsible for this task.
And this new facet of the game of Joel Embiid, empowered as rarely on both sides of the floor, very much pleases his coach, Doc Rivers.
« He worked on it all summer, he worked on his game “, Underlines in this regard the former coach of the Celtics and the Clippers. ” His opponents feel like they can challenge him at this level, but he proves them wrong. If you ‘trap’ Joel [Embiid], he will make you pay for it and that is what he did today. »
A real quarterback
In diesel mode on this start of the year, Joel Embiid delivered 5, 4 and then 6 assists, on his first three outings of the year.
If he will undoubtedly never be as good a passer as the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, reference in the matter in his post, the quadruple All-Star is still able to do very well in this area.
« It was just great to watch, as he remained patient despite the pressure from the defenders “, Explained Doc Rivers first, after the meeting of that night won in Oklahoma City, before daring a very laudatory comparison about him. ” He was simply dictating the game and punishing his opponents, like a quarterback, like a Tom Brady. »
Above all, despite the usual two-way strikes and his new role of “point-center”, Joel Embiid loses very few balls at the start of the season, since he has only 1.3 ball losses at the present time (against 3.4 in career). Proof of his involvement and his mastery in the organization, to water his shooters.
« Joel [Embiid] knew he was going to be ‘trapped’ and he never forced anything, he took his time », analyse Doc Rivers. « I found Joel to have been as much of a leader as anyone else on the pitch [hier] evening. He offered shots to Seth [Curry], to Danny [Green] and, when he does that, he just becomes indefensible because, if you ‘trap’ him, he results in a 3-point and, if you don’t, he scores on you. It was awesome, he saw it and I loved it. »
At 27 years old, Joel Embiid seems to arrive slowly, but surely, at maturity and, if he continues his momentum, without being disturbed by physical problems (in the right knee, in particular …), he will undoubtedly be a candidate for the trophy. of MVP, as in 2020/21, where he finished runner-up to a certain Nikola Jokic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjb0bo33-8w
| Joel Embiid | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | PHL | 31 | 25 | 46.6 | 36.7 | 78.3 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 20.2 |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 63 | 30 | 48.3 | 30.8 | 76.9 | 2.3 | 8.7 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 22.9 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 64 | 34 | 48.4 | 30.0 | 80.4 | 2.5 | 11.1 | 13.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 27.5 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 51 | 30 | 47.7 | 33.1 | 80.7 | 2.8 | 8.9 | 11.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 23.0 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 51 | 31 | 51.3 | 37.7 | 85.9 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 10.6 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 28.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHL | 2 | 28 | 43.8 | 50.0 | 75.0 | 1.5 | 5.5 | 7.0 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 20.5 |
| Total | 262 | 31 | 48.6 | 33.0 | 80.8 | 2.4 | 8.9 | 11.3 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 24.8 | |
