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Embiid vs. Superman


In the six years that have passed since his Dwight's run in Orlando ended, Howard hasn’t been quite the same dominant player, but he can still make an impact. The 30-year old center racked up 11 points (4-9 fg, 3-4 ft) and 19 rebounds in the Hawks’ 114-99 victory over Washington.

Saturday, Joel Embiid figures to get his first crack at the 6-foot-11, 265-pound, eight-time All-Star.

“I think it’s going to make me better,” Embiid said Friday, when discussing the impending match-up. “I like competing. I like competition. If someone’s going to make me better, it’s going to be good for me. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m sure I’m going to give him a hard time too.”

Between Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, who again is expected to have his playing time capped at 14 minutes, Brett Brown believes the Sixers boast the bodies to contend with Howard’s physicality.

“We have a situation that we haven’t had in the past where you can sort of go apples-for-apples with Jahlil and Joel in relation to size,” said Brown. “[Howard’s] mobility at a post with his footwork, and he’s quick - he’s explosive and he’s quick - warrants a lot of team stuff and help. We scheme up.

“If he gets the better of us, there are things we can do to double team him. They’ve changed the rule on the ‘Hack-a-Shaq.’ We have done that in the past. That changes some things. But in general, I feel like we’re good to go playing him straight-up at the start.”