Joel Embiid vows to play at an All-Defensive level and elevate the Sixers after win beating the Knicks
The Sixers haven’t met their offensive potential just yet. But on the defensive end, they looked way ahead of schedule and Embiid wants to keep it that way.
NEW YORK — After the 76ers’ season-opening 106-100 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Joel Embiid turned to Tyrese Maxey and said that this year feels different.
There’s still 81 games left in the season, but he saw flashes of what this group is capable of once they’ve all clicked.
“We’ve been going against these guys for the last couple of years, but tonight felt a little different from the past,” Embiid said. “But we’re still far away from what we could be, and it starts with me offensively, defensively, getting back to myself.”
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The Sixers haven’t met their offensive potential just yet — they “couldn’t make shots” for much of the game — but on the defensive end, they looked ahead of schedule, especially in the second half.
“I thought we did a good job staying in front, and not getting into too many rotations, and that it was consistent with whoever was getting in a closeout or whatever to drive, we were able to cut them off, and then we defensive rebounded much better,” Nick Nurse said.
But the Sixers did make one major defensive rotation in the second half. Since Embiid had already picked up three fouls, he pitched that he switch off Karl-Anthony Towns and pick up Josh Hart. He didn’t feel like he could be as aggressive as he wanted to be with the way the game was being called. Instead, LeBron James switched onto Towns, which helped close Towns out of the paint.
“That’s another big body that can help guard the post,” Embiid said of James. “PJ Tucker was the last one that we had that could do that, that could switch off and guard those bigger guys. … Having ‘Bron, we did that in the Olympics, we’ve done that in the past, that’s a good thing to change.”
The Sixers’ star center had three blocks and two steals in the season opener. Embiid earned three NBA All-Defense second team selections in 2018, 2019, and 2021. He said postgame that he felt like he was back to playing at a NBA All-Defense level, and that he wants to maintain that level for as much of the season as he can.
Part of that is staying healthy. Embiid said at the end of last season that his knees were no longer an issue, and he spent the summer training instead of having to rehab another injury. His lack of mobility became a target for opposing offenses, preying on him in the paint. He said he felt he was “moving great” and was all over the court. That combined with the Sixers’ newfound defensive versatility means there might be a lot to look forward to from Embiid this year.
“Defensively, I think a lot of it falls on me,” Embiid said. “I put it on me. If I want to be All-Defense like I used to be, that changes everything for our team. If I can play that way every single night, which I will, it changes everything.”
