The Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in the midst of a hot streak. After a short rough patch while playing shorthanded, Joel Embiid and Co. have managed to get their season back on track. Currently, the Sixers sit just outside a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference thanks to their recent six-game winning run.
Multiple factors can be attributed to their recent success, but one stands above the rest. That being the play of Embiid. In true superstar fashion, the franchise cornerstone has put the Sixers on his shoulders and done whatever is needed to get back in the win column. This stretch Embiid has put together is arguably the most dominant run of his career.
Over his last nine games, Embiid has averaged 32.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting over 53.5 percent from the floor. He has also eclipsed 30 points in each of the last six games, being the first Sixer to do so since Allen Iverson.
Embiid started the season off somewhat quiet but has kicked it into high gear since returning from health and safety protocols. Following practice on Sunday, players and coaches gave their thoughts on what has led to his elevated play.
First up was head coach Doc Rivers. He feels Embiid has done a much better job asserting himself closer to the basket as of late.
“Joel [Embiid] is just mixing it up. I think the biggest change is he went through a stretch where he was taking a lot of jump shots and not a lot of power. I think he's establishing he is the biggest and baddest on the floor early. That sets up everything else,” said Rivers.
Later on, Danny Green opened up on what he has seen from his All-Star Sixers teammate in recent weeks.
“He's imposing his will more. He's figuring out the double-teams, trusting, passing out of it, but also figuring out how to re-post or making it harder for the double team by making quick moves. He's playing the game on both ends of the floor well, but he's playing the game with the double-team very well,” Green shared.
Despite coming off the best season of his career, Joel Embiid still managed to add more elements to his game. The improvements he has made reading the floor have made him an even tougher force to slow down.
With everything revolving entirely around him, Embiid has been able to put his entire skill set on display this season. Between his improvements as a ballhandler and passer, the Sixers big man has turned himself into a polished all-around player.
Whether if it's a basket on offense or a stop on defense, Embiid has been the go-to guy for the Sixers. Performances like these are what organizations dream of from their “franchise guy.” The Cameroon native continues to prove nothing is going to get in his way of getting Philly back into a position of contention.
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