The Philadelphia 76ers are making some subtle, but crucial, changes to their offense, and it all starts with their star big man, Joel Embiid. Coach Nick Nurse knows with the massive additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, Embiid can’t just hang out in his usual spots. This means the Sixers are looking to redefine how their dominant force operates on the court.
Why Philly’s Offense Had to Shift
It’s no secret LeBron James and Jaylen Brown are ballers who love to work from the mid-post. That’s great, but it creates a serious traffic jam if Embiid, James, and Brown all want to set up shop in the same space. Nurse totally gets that, acknowledging the challenge. He and his crew are hustling to find ways to make it all click. Embiid will still get his moments in the middle, no doubt, but there’s a clear need to move him around if the Sixers want this star-studded lineup to truly shine.
Embiid’s New Movement Patterns Are Key
Nurse was pretty direct about the new game plan for Embiid: “I think that we are trying to move him around the floor a little more frequently, right?” So far, he says it’s “so good.” The coaching staff’s job is to figure out those “movement patterns or sets” where Embiid “ends up in different places.” Why? Because they absolutely need to “open up the middle, the nail, the top, for some other guys, too.” Let’s not forget, even with the new stars, Embiid is still a beast. Last season he put up 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in the 38 games he played. The Sixers *have* to keep him heavily involved in their attack; he’s a phenomenal passer, a high-level scorer, and without question, one of their absolute universe-level stars. Working him into different spots during camp is a huge step for the team to sort out this new dynamic.
Variety Is The Name Of The Game For The Sixers’ Season
This isn’t just a tweak; it’s an “important step” for the team, according to Nurse. He’s been harping on “variety” since last year, talking about how Embiid needs to be spaced in different spots: “If he’s spaced someplace, if he’s posting, if he’s at the top, then he’s spaced someplace. He’s posting. I think that’s going to be better than four at the top and all that, right?” It’s clear what the Sixers are chasing here: an offense that keeps defenses guessing, leverages Embiid’s incredible talent in new ways, and maximizes the firepower of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. How they execute this new vision for Embiid will be one of the biggest stories to watch as the season unfolds.
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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