Why are the Wizards so set to double Embiid every time? They have zero chance to turn the series around with their mediocre double-teams. Here's why:
1. They don’t have the consistent size, off the ball defense to have effective double teams. That’s obvious. They’re too often in no man’s land doubling and doing nothing other than leaving a guy open on the floor and making it so much easier for Philly.
2. It is making it EASY on embiid. This might seem the opposite but by doubling it is simplifying things for embiid. He either shoots or just passes out. Whereas if they don’t double, he suddenly has to make a move and bang with the opposing center. The wizards strength in this series is they have 3 quality bigs to throw at him and wear him out for 48 minutes. If you’re just doubling, you’re neutralizing this advantage and just keeping Embiid fresh for the 4th quarter ….. AND keeps the wizards guards/forwards a bit fresher too if they don’t have to worry about scrambling on defense every single play on a double team.
3. The Wizards have size, why not use it? Embiid is not dominating inside at all. He’s dominating through mid range jumpers right now. Especially when Len is in it makes no sense at all to double – I don’t remember embiid scoring on Len inside all series other than ironically when they did double and Len thought Hachimura had the weak side when he didn’t & embiid went right in between them. All of his baskets have been on fade-away 20 footers or open shots from the defense scrambling for 1 reason or another on Len otherwise. He’s not backing Len down all the way to the basket. Play embiid straight up – that’s why you have big bodies in the 1st place. Let him shoot his jumpers.
Even if you double off a poor shooter Ike Simmons – now Simmons gets the ball wide open & can make a move with the defense scrambling. It’s a recipe for disaster.
If they continue to have all 5 guys worried about embiid – it will make no difference at all on Embiid (at least when Len is in game, and probably with Lopez too) & give Sixers a ton of space to work with.
Play embiid straight up. Trust your bigs to wear him out. Stay focused on the other individual matchups.
Out of curiosity, I looked at the highlights to specifically point out what I'm talking about the lazy double-teams/roaming ...
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5:52 in Video - Embiid has ball FAR OUT & Westbrook is just shading this side doing nothing at all - Easy pass for a Green wide open 3'
6:04 - Len plays great D' on Embiid - makes him pick up dribble 17 feet out. For no reason at all, Westbrook stays with Embiid and loses track of his man Green - who then is able to drive by him easily & throw alley-oop to Simmons
They skip other plays from the beginning of the period so was most likely more - these are just 2 examples of terrible and pointless half-@ssed double teams that lead directly to Sixers score. Len can cover Embiid, I have no idea why the coaching staff is not trusting the bigs to make Embiid work. Len's strength is post defense; put it to use.
