Joel Embiid was limited to just 38 games last season due to a laundry list of issues, from a bothersome knee to an oblique problem and an emergency appendectomy. Yeah, brutal stuff. But forget all that noise, because as the Philadelphia 76ers gear up for the upcoming 82-game grind, all eyes are on Embiid, and his teammates are already hyping him up, especially on the defensive end.
The Defensive Comeback Everyone Should Be Watching
You know how dominant Embiid can be when he’s healthy, right? Before those injuries sidelined him, this dude was an All-Defensive Team monster, an elite shot blocker who made players think twice about even trying to get to the basket. He could change games just with his D. And after dealing with injuries that, let’s be real, probably robbed him of some of that defensive ability, it sounds like the big fella’s bringing it back.
VJ Edgecombe is absolutely gushing about it. “He’s been great,” Edgecombe said, “especially defensively. It’s been what I’ve seen the past couple weeks. He’s been playing really hard, defending at a high level, just trying to do his best protecting the rim and rebounding the ball. It’s been great.” Labaron Philon Jr. echoed that, specifically praising Embiid’s improved pick-and-roll defense in practice. Philon acknowledged, “Guys not really getting behind him for lobs and stuff like that. So if you see that as a big that’s kind of in a drop, that’s what you want to see. Not letting guys get behind.”
The Real Secret: Offseason Grind and a Leaner Look
But it’s not just the defensive effort, it’s the whole package. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope pointed out something super interesting: how slim Embiid looks. He said, “It’s just good to see him. Like, how how slim he is, like him getting up and down the floor running, and I think that’s gonna be good for us. He’s our motor. Like, once he gets going, like everybody’s going.” You can tell this guy put in some serious work over the summer, right? Philon even mentioned seeing Embiid and LeBron James working out in the mornings, “in the same spot, just working on moves and stuff like that.” That’s a serious commitment from a former MVP.
Embiid’s always been “Joel’s Joel” in terms of working hard, getting his stuff done. But after a season where he was limited to only 38 games because of everything from a knee injury to an oblique issue and even an emergency appendectomy, seeing him move like this, looking this lean? That’s the real story everyone should be watching.
Even with dudes like LeBron James and Jaylen Brown on the roster, and Tyrese Maxey stepping up big time as a leader, Embiid is still the engine for what Philadelphia wants to do. He needs to be a force on offense, yeah, but his defensive presence is going to be absolutely crucial for this group. You know he’s still going to draw double teams like crazy, but if he’s back to deterring players at the rim and moving this well, the Sixers are going to be a completely different animal. Philon summed it up best: “We got to trust and believe that he’s going to be ready each and every night. And I feel like he is going to be ready each and every night.” The grind starts soon, and if Embiid is truly ready to go, the league better watch out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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