3. Willing Playmaker
What Joel Embiid has accomplished this season has been impressive. He is a multi-faceted offensive player that can score virtually anywhere in the halfcourt. Teams have to step out on the perimeter because he is making 36.7 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Closeout too hard, Embiid is athletic with enough ball-handling to get to the rim with ease. Put a smaller, quicker player on him so that he cannot drive to the rim as effectively and he punishes them in the post with an array of post moves.
A lot of that was being done without a true point guard in the lineup. Tyrese Maxey had been the starting point guard all season and this was the first time in his basketball career he was playing the position. With a bonafide playmaker in James Harden running the show, Embiid could find himself in even better scoring positions.
We have already seen Embiid involved in more actions with Harden as the ball-handler. Whether it is a pick-and-roll or a pick-and-pop, the two already have some chemistry developed. That is a connection that will only get stronger with more reps.
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Having an elite playmaker to get you the ball makes things easier for everyone. Joel Embiid will have to adjust his approach slightly offensively, but he is skilled enough he can produce no matter what position he is put in.
