Kolkmania wrote:76ciology wrote:Jailblazers7 wrote:This team can be really good if Embiid buys in and prioritizes defense. He’s now on a team where can finally give up some offensive responsibilities and it’s on him to realize that. It’s on Doc too to realize Maxey & Harden can be the engines on offense.
We get All-NBA defense Embiid while still averaging 22-24 per game and I’ll absolutely believe in our title chances.
Regarding Maxey and Harden as engines, we need to let Tucker or another big to set the screen and be the primary screener in the 2 man game. Because Embiid sets weak screens on these 2 man games to prevent foul trouble that leads to the ball handler denied the opening and ends up the ball going back to Jojo at the elbow.
Defensively, we’re already doing that by trying to funnel the opponent to Embiid. The problem is that for some reason, the coaching staff dont acknowledge that Embiid’s athleticism and defensive skills have already declined that he’s not good enough to be that guy that you can just funnel the opponent to on defense.
If playing big (biid and reed frontcourt) is not realistic, then why not let Tucker play 5 and Biid play the 4 instead? Tucker sets screens, funnel the opponent to tucker then let Embiid space the floor, be at weakside for iso opportunity and provide weakside help?
So you think that Embiid is not athletic enough to play a Brook Lopez kind of role on defense, but is suited to defend on the perimeter and run around screens?
Yes.
Tucker can stop penetration giving enough time for Embiid to rotate into the paint.
Tucker plays the Al Horford role while Embiid plays the Robert Williams role. Or the Aaron Baynes role back then with Embiid playing the Al Horford role. The banger-help defender 4-5 set-up. Joeger is familiar with this with his Grizz squad.
And we’ve seen in before with Tucker playing 5 and Roco at the 4, where Roco would roam around and play help defense.
Tucker is too short to provide help defense or too short to get to the paint while in a trail position defending the PnR ball handler. But Tucker is quick and mobile enough to switch and stop penetration that it would allow Embiid to fly to the paint and get his blocks.
Right now teams are comfortable running a pick and pop (siakam, al horford, bro lo) or Biid vs slasher and another guy around the rim waiting for the drop pass or lob.
Tucker is better at stepping out and switching to the stretch 5. Tucker is better at stepping up and deny penetration.
Let Biid chase those PFs, he can do it. Its not ideal but the alternative of what were dealing right now is clearly not working.
Think about it. When tucker is playing with Biid, don’t you find him underutilized on defense? We paid a guy 10M per year just to be Danny Green with poor transition defense?
What makes Tucker special is his ability to play the 5!
The ability to switch and deny dribble penetrations!
And if that’s not good enough. Then that is where my Reed-Biid dream scenario gets into the picture.
There’s never been a time in history when we look back and say that the people who were censoring free speech were the good guys.
