The Legend of Joel Embiid

[76ciology]

Understated this season is Embiid's landing after his jumps. I'm glad he sat out last season to improve his landing.

Biid is also a smart scorer. He balances his inconsistent shooting with FTs and around the rim attempts to not hurt his TS%. He likes to attack with his right, so smart defenders would anticipate those (i.e. wade block). But he counters this with jumpers with his left shoulder.

He's also a pretty good passer. His one hand passes are pretty accurate. And he could just raise the ball to not get deflected for hand-offs.

As a scorer he still got a lot of room with better left hand in finishing and a more consistent jumper His dream shake will be much lethal with these.

Long term, Ben should be a better perimeter threat. My projection for him as a shooter is similar to Blake Griffin. Fultz should also be a perimeter threat. Once that happens, Biid should focus more on operating in the paint and being more consistent with his mid range.

[Bum Adebayo]

Ben just doesn't have the fluidity in his motion to be Blake as a shooter (who is not even elite at shooting), at least that's what the eye test is telling me, just like eye test tells me that Embiid 3pt shooting could improve, slow but very fluid release, I'd say Embiid is a 34-35% 3pt shooter in a normal season, not elite but just decent.
I think Ben could be a decent midrange shooter but that's it, his motion is not good for long distance shots.

[Unbreakable99]

I don’t know why Embiid can’t get lower position. He should be able to catch the ball within 6 feet. And I also would like to know how the NBA counts post ups. If Embiid catches the ball 18 feet from the basket with his back to the basket does that count as a post up because if I were the judge I wouldn’t count that as a post up. Just because you catch the ball with your back to the basket that doesn’t mean it’s a post up.

[Bum Adebayo]

I don’t know why Embiid can’t get lower position. He should be able to catch the ball within 6 feet. And I also would like to know how the NBA counts post ups. If Embiid catches the ball 18 feet from the basket with his back to the basket does that count as a post up because if I were the judge I wouldn’t count that as a post up. Just because you catch the ball with your back to the basket that doesn’t mean it’s a post up.

He can't establish deep post position like guys like cousins for example, he lacks a good base in his lower body, that makes it easier for the opposing center tu push him out of the paint a little bit and that's also why he falls that much, his body type in the lower zone is why he doesn't have good balance. He can absorb contact very well around the rim, but when posting up he just lacks that lower body to just overpower smaller players. Probably why he prefers to shoot or face up.
I've no idea if the fact that he had that many injuries in his lower body has prevented him to train seriously his lower body strength, if this is the case, then next season, if he doesn't have another setback, should be interesting to see the result of training that in summer.

[nrok10307]

I don’t know why Embiid can’t get lower position. He should be able to catch the ball within 6 feet. And I also would like to know how the NBA counts post ups. If Embiid catches the ball 18 feet from the basket with his back to the basket does that count as a post up because if I were the judge I wouldn’t count that as a post up. Just because you catch the ball with your back to the basket that doesn’t mean it’s a post up.

He can't establish deep post position like guys like cousins for example, he lacks a good base in his lower body, that makes it easier for the opposing center tu push him out of the paint a little bit and that's also why he falls that much, his body type in the lower zone is why he doesn't have good balance. He can absorb contact very well around the rim, but when posting up he just lacks that lower body to just overpower smaller players. Probably why he prefers to shoot or face up.
I've no idea if the fact that he had that many injuries in his lower body has prevented him to train seriously his lower body strength, if this is the case, then next season, if he doesn't have another setback, should be interesting to see the result of training that in summer.

Thoughts on if the offensive scheme is the result of any of this? Feel like I never see a simple back screen to free up JoJo on the block.

[Bum Adebayo]

I don’t know why Embiid can’t get lower position. He should be able to catch the ball within 6 feet. And I also would like to know how the NBA counts post ups. If Embiid catches the ball 18 feet from the basket with his back to the basket does that count as a post up because if I were the judge I wouldn’t count that as a post up. Just because you catch the ball with your back to the basket that doesn’t mean it’s a post up.

He can't establish deep post position like guys like cousins for example, he lacks a good base in his lower body, that makes it easier for the opposing center tu push him out of the paint a little bit and that's also why he falls that much, his body type in the lower zone is why he doesn't have good balance. He can absorb contact very well around the rim, but when posting up he just lacks that lower body to just overpower smaller players. Probably why he prefers to shoot or face up.
I've no idea if the fact that he had that many injuries in his lower body has prevented him to train seriously his lower body strength, if this is the case, then next season, if he doesn't have another setback, should be interesting to see the result of training that in summer.

Thoughts on if the offensive scheme is the result of any of this? Feel like I never see a simple back screen to free up JoJo on the block.

It is both, he likes to float around the perimeter and th offensive scheme dictates that, but when he tries to establish good post position, it is not an easy task for him most of the time.

[Sixerscan]

Joel establishes low position position more than any player in the league. He doesn't do it every time because it's really hard to do. Which is why no one else in the league does it as much as him.

[LloydFree]

Danny Leroux, on the RealGM podcast, says Joel Embiid is the 1st team All-NBA Center for the 1st month. Neither he or Duncan chose Boogie for 1st team. SuperMax coming into focus for Joel! That's 6 million less available on the CAP though.

[Sixerscan]

Danny Leroux, on the RealGM podcast, says Joel Embiid is the 1st team All-NBA Center for the 1st month. Neither he or Duncan chose Boogie for 1st team. SuperMax coming into focus for Joel! That's 6 million less available on the CAP though.

Boogie has really cooled off lately. He was averaging like 30 ppg but has cracked 20 once in his last 6 games. He's been playing a lot less too, not sure if that's foul trouble or they're trying to limit his minutes.

[MNSixerFan]

I don’t know why Embiid can’t get lower position. He should be able to catch the ball within 6 feet. And I also would like to know how the NBA counts post ups. If Embiid catches the ball 18 feet from the basket with his back to the basket does that count as a post up because if I were the judge I wouldn’t count that as a post up. Just because you catch the ball with your back to the basket that doesn’t mean it’s a post up.

He needs and should be able to post up 7-10 feet from the rack easily. This is something he really needs to work on. My advice would be to hire someone like Olajuwon or Kevin McHale. Too often embiid gets position 15 to 20 feet from the tin...that's unacceptable for someone 7-2 270.

[eyeatoma]

Read on Twitter

Great to see, and he looks it now. I wonder how his knee is feeling. Also, what does everyone think his ideal weight should be? 275? 270? 265?

[MNSixerFan]

Needs to be at 250

I thought he looked heavy at the start

[sixerswillrule]

Needs to be at 250

I thought he looked heavy at the start

He's 7'2".

[Bum Adebayo]

He doesn't have the body type to be 250lbs, he is a naturally big player, just not as heavy as guys like Cousins for example. But as always, more important than his weight is his body fat %, which I think could improve more if he commits to a better diet IMO.

[WMDman]

I think 270 is a good weight for him

[eyeatoma]

I think 270 is a good weight for him

Agreed, if he went Vegan that could be 265... A 265 Embiid would be like a gazelle on the court. Running like crazy like in college. He would be a lot quicker, and his d might be better, but he wouldn't be able to overpower his opponents. I think 270, or 275 might be a good balance. Let's see. w/e is best for his knees/feet/back is what it should be at haha.

[agiaco]

"What's the part about this match up that excites you the most?"
"Nothing really."

Embiid talking about Drummond tonight

[Bum Adebayo]

Thinks like shirley temples are very bad if you want to be in top shape, he should stop drinking that if he still does.

[MNSixerFan]

Needs to be at 250

I thought he looked heavy at the start

He's 7'2".

I know Kareem was 7-2 about 230 played over 20 years and might have been the best center of all time. 250.

[sixerswillrule]

Needs to be at 250

I thought he looked heavy at the start

He's 7'2".

I know Kareem was 7-2 about 230 played over 20 years and might have been the best center of all time. 250.

Andre Iguodala probably weighs about 230. Kareem didn't play at 230.