In the 76ers' victory over the Cavaliers, Embiid played 32 minutes, shooting 11-of-22, 4-of-5 from three-point range, 14-of-15 from the free throw line, and cut 40 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals, becoming the first 76ers to score at least 40 points, 10 boards and 10 assists since Chamberlain in 1968.
In addition to the large triple-double, Embiid also staged a violent deduction for Aaron in the game. Aaron: That's worse than when you had 24.8 points and 13.5 rebounds in the playoffs that year!
Embiid averaged 29.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season, 37.1% of the league's top-of-the-line possessions per game, and fewer turnovers while setting a career-high in assists.
We used to say embiid needed a blocking point guard, but now it seems that giving him all the ball is still playing. After a downturn in the opening, Embiid has gradually regained the MVP level of last season.
In 13 games in December, he has averaged 29.2 points and 49.6% shooting per game, and in 14 games in January, he has scored 34 points with 54.2%.
He is also the most terrifying low-level behemoth in the league, averaging 8.1 lows per game, and among players with more than 50 low-postings, Embiid has the fifth-highest scoring rate in the league. Considering that the number of low positions in the top four combined is only more than Embiid's 10 times, it is enough to see Embiid's dominance in the low position.
Embiid also averaged 4.6 face-to-frame heads per game, ranking ninth in the league, and he is naturally the only center player in the top ten. Combined with his rising number of assists, it's clear that Embiid is a center with a lot of balls in his hands to create offensive opportunities.
Generally, he also does the blocking and dismantling done by the finalist, but the frequency is lower than that of the face frame single and low back, and he chooses to dismantle nearly 80% of the rounds in the blocking. After the demolition, you can shoot the basket, or you can dribble the ball to attack.
So does Embiid really need a ball-to-ball fighter with a lot of balls in his hands? His ability to shoot the ball after being clipped has improved, his ability to launch direct attacks from the outside has improved, and his mid-range shooting has remained above 40%.
Harden's no-ball ability is actually not outstanding, it is natural that he can play with Embiid, but he is better at passing the ball to downside players, and embiid's current effect proves that he does not need to constantly do cover like a blue-collar center.
Therefore, the current version of Embiid will inevitably go through a painful period after Harden joins. Although Harden's level has declined, the number of heads-ups is still the best in the league, and Embiid can give him space, but it is not a waste. Harden could also give Embidra space, but it wasn't a waste.
If the two stars take turns to attack individually, the 76ers offense does not necessarily form an effective whole. How to choose between cooperation and head-to-head is what they need to think about next.
The defensive end embiid is not a change of defense type, Harris is more suitable for defending the inside line, Harden is also, so one of the two needs to face the outside players, once passed, it will constantly test Embiid's protective frame and increase the burden on his defensive end.
Of course, these are two stars with high real levels, and compared to Simmons, who does not play, at least Harden can play on the court, and it is still very easy to reach the all-star level.
But about the MVP, the run-in period between the two sides, the possible decline in record and performance decline, will make Embiid's hope of getting MVP smaller.
And even if it is a recent surge, it is still worse than nearly 58% shooting rate to cut 25.8 points, and there are 13.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists, and the teammates around him are very bad about the teacher.