Sixers’ Joel Embiid determined to keep trusting teammates through shooting struggles
Trust was a popular word postgame Saturday night in Brooklyn for the Sixers and for their star center nicknamed The Process.
Joel Embiid concluded the Sixers back-to-back set against the Knicks and Nets with 72 points on 26-for-36 shooting, but thats not what head coach Doc Rivers wanted to highlight following the Sixers ultra-tight win in Brooklyn.
You know, Jo had 37 points and thats what everyone will focus on, Rivers said. Im focusing on his passing when guys were not making shots and trusting it. He just kept doing it. And thats basically what we said after the game: Youve still got to make the right play.
Nine times out of 10, our guys will make those shots. Tonight, Georges (Niang) couldnt make it, Tobias (Harris) cant make it, (DeAnthony Melton) couldnt make it. But he kept trusting, and thats huge for our team moving forward.
Tyrese Maxey had also lauded Embiid for consistently hitting open teammates after Fridays victory over the Knicks, although Maxey noted that Embiid wasnt exactly thrilled with the Sixers shooting of late.
He told us on the plane on the trip back (from Boston) that weve got to make shots, Maxey said. Its as simple as that. And thats what leaders do. For him to keep trusting us and passing the ball, I think thats big-time growth from him. He still was Joel at the end of the game, got his buckets when he needed to, and he hit open guys when he needed to. Thats leadership, and we appreciate him for that.
On Saturday, the Sixers three starters besides Embiid and James Harden went 2 for 14 from the floor overall.
What compels Embiid to keep some degree of faith even in those circumstances?
Like I always say, you cant win 1-on-5. I joked around with them after the game. This has happened a couple of nights, but based on last night, I shouldve probably had at least 10 assists each game, Embiid said with a smile. But got to keep trusting them, especially with the way teams double me especially coming on the pass every single possession. Youve just got to keep trusting them, and I feel like Ive been making the right plays over and over.
Its going to pay off at some point. Theres going to be one night where we get hot and guys just keep hitting shots, whether its Tyrese, James, Tobias, Georges, D-Melt. So Ive just got to keep trusting them and make sure that they feel good about getting the ball and getting those shots. Its only going to make my job easier. If I can trust them and they can make those shots, then it becomes hard to double. If youve got to play me 1-on-1, good luck.
The at least 10 assists each game comment is obviously a comedic exaggeration, but Embiid did officially have 17 potential assists in the back-to-back. He posted six actual assists Friday and just two in Brooklyn. However, the Sixers have often rewarded Embiid this season for feeding the open man. Theyve shot 102 for 244 (41.8 percent) from three-point range off of his passes, per NBA.com/Stats.
On nights like Saturday when many right plays dont coincide with great results, Rivers wants Embiid to stay the course. But as a coach, it doesnt make sense to stubbornly ride out something thats ineffective. Against Brooklyn, Rivers continued to start DeAnthony Melton but played Maxey much more for the second consecutive game. And just as hed done in Boston, Rivers put Harris on the bench for some important fourth-quarter minutes.
The Harden-Embiid duo scored the Sixers final 12 points, including Embiids two go-ahead foul shots with 5.2 seconds left, and the team gutted out another comeback win.
Well, we have different guys and so we kept changing. We took Tobias out, which we never do, and put Georges in because it was the weak-side corner, Rivers said. We knew the way they were going to trap; we were going to get the weak-side corner. We put Tyrese there, which we never do. We put him there to drive, and get back in the paint and create a shot.
It was one of those games, from a coaching point, youre just searching. Youre searching for someone. Legs may have been heavy from last nights game. Last nights game was a hard game. Weve got a lot of guys that you can do that with, and I think thats going to serve us (well) down the stretch and in the playoffs.
As for Embiid, he admitted Saturday that he used to get frustrated a lot when teammates would miss good looks. He sounds like hes gained greater clarity on how to best approach the game, and that trust has become foundational.
Passing is not that hard, he said. Youve just got to be a willing passer. I think Ive become more of a willing passer because I would say in the past, if we missed a shot or two, then Id be like, All right, were not going to make shots. Then Ive got to go do it by myself.
And sometimes you might have to, but in those situations, over time and just with experience, just understanding that as long as I can make my teammates feel better about themselves and theyre touching the ball, its going to make me better.
