The Legend of Joel Embiid

[Ericb5]

Unpopular opinion, but I'd rather he doesn't post up more. He's better suited moving without the ball and only posting up if he's in space and has a clean entry pass near the basket. The days of Shaq catching the ball and going to work are pretty much over. Embiid has a nice enough jumper to be a major threat in the mid-range to the 3pt line.

The best teams find a way to get baskets with the least path of resistance. When Fultz returns, we need to run the PnR exclusively through him in the half court with Embiid being the recipient of the roll passes more often than not.

Totally agree with this. Post and ISo should be last option and best set up on screen plays whenever the defense switch.

The thing is that he will never improve on it if he doesn't keep working on it. He is 7'2 and 280 pounds. If he isn't getting the ball in the post then he might as well be 6'10 and 240.

We need to live with his growing pains now when the wins don't matter in order to improve his skills for when they do matter.

He doesn't have to play like Shaq to be effective in the post. He just needs to make decisions, and moves faster.

[76ciology]

Unpopular opinion, but I'd rather he doesn't post up more. He's better suited moving without the ball and only posting up if he's in space and has a clean entry pass near the basket. The days of Shaq catching the ball and going to work are pretty much over. Embiid has a nice enough jumper to be a major threat in the mid-range to the 3pt line.

The best teams find a way to get baskets with the least path of resistance. When Fultz returns, we need to run the PnR exclusively through him in the half court with Embiid being the recipient of the roll passes more often than not.

Totally agree with this. Post and ISo should be last option and best set up on screen plays whenever the defense switch.

The thing is that he will never improve on it if he doesn't keep working on it. He is 7'2 and 280 pounds. If he isn't getting the ball in the post then he might as well be 6'10 and 240.

We need to live with his growing pains now when the wins don't matter in order to improve his skills for when they do matter.

He doesn't have to play like Shaq to be effective in the post. He just needs to make decisions, and moves faster.

Maybe opt to go for post/iso on crunch time but more on the flow of the game other than that. I also think his struggle with his 3pt shooting is hurting him a lot. It really neutralizes his close out game

Btw, he's quite effective on PnRs with JJ Redick. And act more of a screener on Ben's PnR. Ben's man usually goes under that f'd up his spacing as a roll man

[Negrodamus]

Unpopular opinion, but I'd rather he doesn't post up more. He's better suited moving without the ball and only posting up if he's in space and has a clean entry pass near the basket. The days of Shaq catching the ball and going to work are pretty much over. Embiid has a nice enough jumper to be a major threat in the mid-range to the 3pt line.

The best teams find a way to get baskets with the least path of resistance. When Fultz returns, we need to run the PnR exclusively through him in the half court with Embiid being the recipient of the roll passes more often than not.

Totally agree with this. Post and ISo should be last option and best set up on screen plays whenever the defense switch.

The thing is that he will never improve on it if he doesn't keep working on it. He is 7'2 and 280 pounds. If he isn't getting the ball in the post then he might as well be 6'10 and 240.

We need to live with his growing pains now when the wins don't matter in order to improve his skills for when they do matter.

He doesn't have to play like Shaq to be effective in the post. He just needs to make decisions, and moves faster.

He needs to move without the ball and put himself in the position to get the entry pass near the rim, not near the 3pt line. He needs to learn how to set better screens and crash to the basket. He needs to make quick, decisive moves after he analyzes the defense being played on him.

i'm not calling for him to receive less post entry passes, I'm calling for more efficient play from him. I'd also love to get his "seconds per touch" under 2, like Towns and Porzingis.

[Ericb5]

Totally agree with this. Post and ISo should be last option and best set up on screen plays whenever the defense switch.

The thing is that he will never improve on it if he doesn't keep working on it. He is 7'2 and 280 pounds. If he isn't getting the ball in the post then he might as well be 6'10 and 240.

We need to live with his growing pains now when the wins don't matter in order to improve his skills for when they do matter.

He doesn't have to play like Shaq to be effective in the post. He just needs to make decisions, and moves faster.

He needs to move without the ball and put himself in the position to get the entry pass near the rim, not near the 3pt line. He needs to learn how to set better screens and crash to the basket. He needs to make quick, decisive moves after he analyzes the defense being played on him.

i'm not calling for him to receive less post entry passes, I'm calling for more efficient play from him. I'd also love to get his "seconds per touch" under 2, like Towns and Porzingis.

I agree with that. He should be touching the ball frequently, but never for more than a few seconds at a time.

We need to keep working on it with him because he can be a dominant offensive weapon as well as the dominant defensive weapon that he already is.


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[gdog2004]

I think the perception of Embiid is that he's some dominant post player because he's big and anytime he goes against a small guy the thought is he will bludgeon him. Its not valid. He's more of a Patrick Ewing type player with Shaq like size. He could develop into more of a bully in the post, but he's not now. Doesn't have the footwork yet or the body control. He still isn't as good as he was last year, hopefully that will come.

[Mik317]

Embiid's rawness posting up was one of the few non injury related flaws he had coming from Kansas IIRC.

I'll also be honest, i don't think a pure post up based offense works in today's nba. Its too slow to set up and relies on the postee to always be able to finish and get the best position...which is asking a lot. It doesn't help that Embiid has lost a step and thus is more lumbering on offense right now. So I'd like for him to become a giant (lol) Lamarcus Aldridge or even better Tim Duncan instead of a pure post up guy....and when he does post up to just make a move as quickly as possible instead of allowing the defense to set up. Thats what is leading to a lot of the TOs, as off ball defenders have picked up when he's going to make his move, cheat off their man and get their hands in the way (for what should be fouls but yolo), and causing either bad shots or turnovers. A LAck of Quicker decision making in general has been Embiid's major flaw offensively this year.

Hopefully this comes with more reps and as his body gets into better shape.

also I think the 3s should become less of an option or at least further down the list. 24% is abysmal.

[gdog2004]

Embiid's rawness posting up was one of the few non injury related flaws he had coming from Kansas IIRC.
i don't think a pure post up based offense works in today's nba.

Not all the time but on occasion its very effective. It gets the opposing team in foul trouble and Embiid is a very good FT shooter.
These complaints about Embiid in the post sound very familiar to the Okafor complaints in the post. Okafor is a better player down low than Embiid IMO, but so much worse at everything else it doesn't matter. it is the one thing hes pretty good at.

[Ericb5]

I think the perception of Embiid is that he's some dominant post player because he's big and anytime he goes against a small guy the thought is he will bludgeon him. Its not valid. He's more of a Patrick Ewing type player with Shaq like size. He could develop into more of a bully in the post, but he's not now. Doesn't have the footwork yet or the body control. He still isn't as good as he was last year, hopefully that will come.

He DOES have the footwork, and the body control though. He just needs to be more decisive about what he wants to do, and he also needs to handle the double teams better.

If he starts dribbling with his back to the basket I want him to shoot the ball before his 3rd dribble. I think that he needs to make up his mind ahead of time whether he wants to attack a given defender facing up, or posting up. If he wants to do it facing up then he can receive the ball 10 feet out, and then turn and face.

However, if he wants to post him up he will need to carve out position and call for it closer to the basket, and then make his move faster.

[MNSixerFan]

I think the perception of Embiid is that he's some dominant post player because he's big and anytime he goes against a small guy the thought is he will bludgeon him. Its not valid. He's more of a Patrick Ewing type player with Shaq like size. He could develop into more of a bully in the post, but he's not now. Doesn't have the footwork yet or the body control. He still isn't as good as he was last year, hopefully that will come.

He DOES have the footwork, and the body control though. He just needs to be more decisive about what he wants to do, and he also needs to handle the double teams better.

If he starts dribbling with his back to the basket I want him to shoot the ball before his 3rd dribble. I think that he needs to make up his mind ahead of time whether he wants to attack a given defender facing up, or posting up. If he wants to do it facing up then he can receive the ball 10 feet out, and then turn and face.

However, if he wants to post him up he will need to carve out position and call for it closer to the basket, and then make his move faster.

He does not have the footwork it is atrocious footwork for a post player.

[LongLiveHinkie]

Embiid's rawness posting up was one of the few non injury related flaws he had coming from Kansas IIRC.

I'll also be honest, i don't think a pure post up based offense works in today's nba. Its too slow to set up and relies on the postee to always be able to finish and get the best position...which is asking a lot. It doesn't help that Embiid has lost a step and thus is more lumbering on offense right now. So I'd like for him to become a giant (lol) Lamarcus Aldridge or even better Tim Duncan instead of a pure post up guy....and when he does post up to just make a move as quickly as possible instead of allowing the defense to set up. Thats what is leading to a lot of the TOs, as off ball defenders have picked up when he's going to make his move, cheat off their man and get their hands in the way (for what should be fouls but yolo), and causing either bad shots or turnovers. A LAck of Quicker decision making in general has been Embiid's major flaw offensively this year.

Hopefully this comes with more reps and as his body gets into better shape.

also I think the 3s should become less of an option or at least further down the list. 24% is abysmal.

I think that's an anomaly. I want him to shoot more 3's. Not 5 a game or anything, but more. I'd say he's about a 37%ish 3 point shooter under normal circumstances. That one awful game really skewed his 3 point percentage and made it look worse than it is. He's the best 3 point shooting center in the NBA although it's not showing now.

[Sixerscan]

Honestly feels like cheating getting 36 minutes out of this guy.

[LongLiveHinkie]

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[76ciology]

Not talked about but I love how Embiid's playing like he's very durable. He also makes better landings. Shows great confidence with his health is important. Can't keep holding my breath whenever he lands.

[spikeslovechild]

Finally saw him establish himself inside. Glad he decided to stop settling and just go at his opponent. Saw the result with Jordan fouling out.

If he can do it to him he can do it to a hell of alot other lesser NBA centers.

[76ciology]

Finally saw him establish himself inside. Glad he decided to stop settling and just go at his opponent. Saw the result with Jordan fouling out.

If he can do it to him he can do it to a hell of alot other lesser NBA centers.

He needs to use his left on some of his post moves because he's quite mechanical for now.

[76ciology]

The key for Jojo is to be smart and aggressive at the post. Be like James Harden at the post with all the rip throughs, initiating contacts and get guys into foul trouble. The officiating is F'd up anyway, might as well take advantage of it

[CoreyGallagher]

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He’s obviously not back physically yet, but he must be playing smarter on defense then, because 96.7 DRtg...

[LongLiveHinkie]

I think his presence alone makes a difference even with him not moving as well. Players are intimidated by his size.

[marcush]

His presence is definitely a factor, team mates walk taller, opposition know they are in for a battle. Kinda the opposite of Okafor's presence.

[Wilfried]

That 3 pointer