Just Let Joel Embiid Run the Offense
Last season, Ben Simmons was the Philadelphia 76ers’ point guard and along with Joel Embiid, he did a lot of the “dirty work” in terms of facilitating for others on this team. Simmons led the team in assists per game and recorded an assist percentage of 31.3%, meaning that he recorded an assist while on the floor on about 1 of every 3 made shots for the Sixers.
Losing Simmons definitely leaves a hole in the 76ers offense and passing, but Joel Embiid is more than capable of being a “point-center” for this team. After all, he finished the 2020-21 season with a 35.3% usage percentage and always seemed to be the guy to initiate the offense anyways from either the low-post or near the free-throw line.
Letting Embiid just run things on offense allows shooters like Danny Green, Seth Curry, Furkan Korkmaz, and others to dance around the MVP candidate on the perimeter, opening up this Philly offense tremendously.
The best part about doing this is also the fact that teams will not be able to be as confident double-teaming Joel Embiid in the post.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Joel Embiid Sounds Off On Ben Simmons Amid Holdout
With Ben Simmons on the court, teams would flock to Embiid as soon as he got the ball near the paint, leaving Simmons wide open on the perimeter because they knew he could not shoot. Replacing the 3x All-Star now with a guy like Tyrese Maxey, Furkan Korkmaz or even Georges Niang gives Philly another shooting threat and a player opposing teams will have to respect.
If they now double-team Embiid, he will be able to swing the ball to an open man in the corner, who can knock down an open jumper, and if they do not double-team him, well then I feel sorry for whoever is guarding Joel Embiid!
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Joel Embiid Sounds Off On Ben Simmons Amid Holdout
Along with Tobias Harris, the Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of guys who are more than comfortable playing with the ball in their hands and facilitating the offense. Curry, Green, and Harris have been around in the NBA for long enough that they are all reliable players and should have no problem taking turns playing through the big man.
