Sixers training camp observations: Joel Embiid’s active leadership and more
After a week of work at their practice facility in Camden, New Jersey, the Sixers will play their first exhibition game of the 2021-22 season on Monday night.
Before the teams preseason opener against the Raptors in Toronto, here are our observations on Day 5 of training camp:
An active leader
The Sixers concluded practice Sunday with fast-paced, high-energy three-man drills. The largest, most important player on the team, Joel Embiid, wasnt exempt.
Three-man drills on Day 5 of Sixers camp: pic.twitter.com/NxrPDhyuXt
In years past, the Sixers have often been cautious in managing Embiids practice workload, seeking to minimize the risk of injury and unnecessary stress on his body. But even after Embiid suffered a small right lateral meniscus tear in last years playoffs, he hasnt taken it easy.
Head coach Doc Rivers has been impressed by Embiids leadership.
Hes been great, Rivers said. Everything what hes saying, what hes doing. What we talked about this summer is youve got to do them both. You cant do one and not the other. And hes done everything. Hes missed very few reps in practice, if any. Joels been in 98 percent of the practice (reps). And thats been good. Thats leadership. So hes really doing a lot of things that we need him to do.
With Ben Simmons holding out of camp, the trio of Embiid, Tobias Harris and Danny Green are clearly the three most prominent Sixers leaders.
Weve had numerous conversations about our focus this year and where we want to go, Harris said of Embiid. For him, hes talking a lot more to different guys pulling guys to the side so youre just seeing him evolve as a player, not only on the court but also off the court, communication-wise. I think thats a big key for his growth and our team growth, as well.
Embiid (rest) is listed as out for Monday’s game. Rivers said Saturday he doesn’t expect to play any of Embiid, Seth Curry, Harris or Green in every preseason game.
Growth through grit
Until theres some sort of finality with Simmons, its tricky to discern much about this year’s Sixers.
That said, Rivers has one seasons worth of basketball to analyze. And, while he has desired schematic and stylistic tweaks, there are also less tangible concepts on his mind.
He was asked Sunday about the Sixers identity.
I dont know, Rivers said. I loved our team last year. (Identity is) a tough word because the mental toughness and the grit, we showed it a lot, but thats where I want us to grow. I want us to be that team. … I go back to last season and at the end of the season, each coach, we put down which are the two grittiest teams mentally. And it was Milwaukee and Phoenix. That doesnt mean it always happens, but I didnt think that was a coincidence last year.
I thought that when we played (the Suns) in Phoenix we were tired, but I just thought they mentally beat us that game; they didnt play well. I thought a lot of that was our defense, but we couldnt finish the game. I just thought they (ground) us down by the end of it. Milwaukee, the game here you remember was (without) Joel, but we played terrific in that game. But by the end, we gave in. Thats the area I want to see us grow in.
The Sixers squandered a 19-point advantage to the eventual champion Bucks in that March loss. They blew an 18-point lead and then a 26-point lead in consecutive playoff games against the Hawks, stunning collapses that sure support Rivers assertion the team can become mentally tougher.
Close to a full crew
The Sixers have no known health problems at the moment.
However, rookie center Charles Bassey wont be with the team in Toronto. The Sixers are finalizing Basseys work visa, per a team official, and the 20-year-old is not expected to miss any additional time related to the visa issue.
Bassey joined the Sixers this August in Las Vegas but didnt play in summer league. He didnt sign his rookie contract a three-year deal with Year 1 fully guaranteed and Year 2 partially guaranteed until a few days before training camp.
I dont know the impact, Rivers said. It has to have one. Not playing this game doesnt matter one way or the other, to be honest. Hes had all the practices and hes going to miss one game, so I dont think that matters except for he needs to get into a game. And so he will. Theres nothing he can do about this. This is stuff that happens with travel. So its not a big deal.
Its likely not essential for Bassey to be fully ready for NBA playing time on Day 1 of the regular season. He isn’t high on the Sixers depth chart.
Still, preseason minutes are always nice for non-veterans, and many young Sixers besides Bassey should receive them Monday night.
