Joel Embiid's recent struggles are concerning for the Philadelphia 76ers, but head coach Brett Brown won't blame Embiid's struggles on the acquisition of Jimmy Butler. Brown feels that blaming Embiid's recent struggles on the Butler trade isn't a possibility he feels like discussing. He thinks that creating more space for Embiid to operate is the key.
“I don’t want to connect those dots,” Brett Brown said to Keith Pompey of Philly.com Friday night. “But I think in general we all have to do better at creating space for Joel.”
Blaming the Butler trade for Embiid's dip in production seems to make sense, but it's an oversimplification of the situation. Brett Brown is trying to figure out how to work his rotations and his offensive scheme with another star in the mix.
Developing chemistry among the players will take some time. Furthermore, Brown's system will likely need some tinkering before they figure out how to best utilize everyone on the roster.
There's no need to panic or start placing blame on anyone. Embiid's recent play is less than ideal, but Philly is picking up steam after the Butler trade. The Sixers have climbed up the crowded Eastern Conference to second place with a record of 18-9. Moreover, the team is 9-3 with Butler in the lineup.
If Embiid is struggling and Philly is still winning games, imagine how dominant they could become when Embiid is back to his All-Star form. Many people want to connect the dots between Embiid's recent struggles and the Butler trade. Let's give them some time to develop more chemistry and let's not forget that the Sixers are still winning games with Brett Brown as coach.
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