Joel Embiid breaks down running offense easily for Sixers from the elbow
PHILADELPHIA–Joel Embiid had a triumphant return on Monday in a 104-101 win over the Atlanta Hawks. After missing four games due to a left mid-foot sprain, Embiid delivered with 30 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
The big fella was almost like a point guard out there as he was telling guys where to be and putting guys in a position to succeed while out on the floor. Due to his passing dominance, the Hawks didn’t send many double teams his way and Embiid then took over offensively with 11 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Sixers to a win.
Afterward, Embiid discussed why he wasn’t surprised Atlanta didn’t double as much as he runs the offense from the elbow rather than the post.
“No, because it’s hard and it’s almost impossible to double from the elbow,” he explained. “There’s a reason why I don’t post up as much as I used to post up in the past. There’s a reason for that because, in the post, it’s just easy to double and but at the elbow or the nail, if you want to double, good luck. Someone is going to be wide open and I have a better vision of the whole floor depending on where they’re doubling from someone is going to be open and I can see everybody.”
30 PTS | 8 REB | 7 AST
welcome back, Joel Embiid.
🎥 presented by @palottery pic.twitter.com/sOE0h97QwN
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 29, 2022
Due to the fact that Embiid can see the entire floor from the elbow rather than in the post, and he’s so skilled that he can score or pass from that area, it wouldn’t have mattered if the Hawks sent the double. Even if they did, Embiid has shown that he can pick it apart and be able to set up his teammates for easy baskets.
“In that situation, they’ve been watching film, like I’m sure the rest of the league do,” Embiid finished. “We run the same play. Especially, at the end of the game. It’s hard. It’s hard to double. If you want to do it, go ahead, but it is hard and you just gotta live with the results, and tonight (Monday), we were just fortunate to knock down a couple of key shots.”
Embiid and the Sixers will now hit the road for a 3-game trip starting on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Doc Rivers, Sixers assess the return of Joel Embiid in win over Hawks
