To Fit the Puzzle with Joel Embiid by Your Side, Just Be a Good Catch
For many in the Sixers' organization, fitting alongside Joel Embiid has become an exercise in adaptability. Tyrese Maxey, now a borderline superstar, acknowledges that playing alongside the dominant big man requires a keen understanding of the game and its nuances. "It takes a lot," he said, "you've got to have a good feel for the game. It's different. It's different."
Embiid's unique style of play demands a certain level of accommodation from his teammates, particularly at power forward, where the Sixers have introduced new archetypes into their rotation. Trendon Watford, with his unorthodox playing style, has been one such player, and he faces an added challenge when playing alongside Embiid. "When I'm out there with him," Watford said, "I really just try to be another ball-handler to play pick-and-roll with him."
Dominick Barlow, the most consistent frontcourt partner for Embiid, has developed a strong rapport with his big man on plays involving multiple defenders. While they do put in considerable work together, their dynamic is often instinctive rather than fully planned. "I think kind of instinctive," Barlow said. "[There are] definitely cues that we have, we talk about stuff like that at shootaround, but I think it's an instinct thing."
Jabari Walker, another two-way signee, has become a critical component of the Sixers' frontcourt rotation. He uses the term "filling the gaps" to describe how he tries to accentuate Embiid's abilities when they share the floor. "Playing with Jo is different," Walker said. "He attracts so much attention. Honestly, you're just filling the gaps."
Embiid recently credited Walker for doing all of the things Embiid cannot necessarily do on every possession, from going after loose balls to crashing the offensive glass. For years, the Sixers have prioritized shooting and floor spacing around Embiid, but in his more limited state as a mover, having some strength next to him can provide Embiid mental relief.
While playing alongside Embiid comes with its challenges, it also presents an opportunity for the team to showcase its depth and versatility. As long as players like Barlow and Walker are willing to adapt their game to fit around Embiid's unique style, the Sixers may find themselves with a formidable force in the NBA. After all, when teams double-team Embiid, the most important thing is not to get caught up in the action – it's simply to "get the hell out of the way" and let him play.
For many in the Sixers' organization, fitting alongside Joel Embiid has become an exercise in adaptability. Tyrese Maxey, now a borderline superstar, acknowledges that playing alongside the dominant big man requires a keen understanding of the game and its nuances. "It takes a lot," he said, "you've got to have a good feel for the game. It's different. It's different."
Embiid's unique style of play demands a certain level of accommodation from his teammates, particularly at power forward, where the Sixers have introduced new archetypes into their rotation. Trendon Watford, with his unorthodox playing style, has been one such player, and he faces an added challenge when playing alongside Embiid. "When I'm out there with him," Watford said, "I really just try to be another ball-handler to play pick-and-roll with him."
Dominick Barlow, the most consistent frontcourt partner for Embiid, has developed a strong rapport with his big man on plays involving multiple defenders. While they do put in considerable work together, their dynamic is often instinctive rather than fully planned. "I think kind of instinctive," Barlow said. "[There are] definitely cues that we have, we talk about stuff like that at shootaround, but I think it's an instinct thing."
Jabari Walker, another two-way signee, has become a critical component of the Sixers' frontcourt rotation. He uses the term "filling the gaps" to describe how he tries to accentuate Embiid's abilities when they share the floor. "Playing with Jo is different," Walker said. "He attracts so much attention. Honestly, you're just filling the gaps."
Embiid recently credited Walker for doing all of the things Embiid cannot necessarily do on every possession, from going after loose balls to crashing the offensive glass. For years, the Sixers have prioritized shooting and floor spacing around Embiid, but in his more limited state as a mover, having some strength next to him can provide Embiid mental relief.
While playing alongside Embiid comes with its challenges, it also presents an opportunity for the team to showcase its depth and versatility. As long as players like Barlow and Walker are willing to adapt their game to fit around Embiid's unique style, the Sixers may find themselves with a formidable force in the NBA. After all, when teams double-team Embiid, the most important thing is not to get caught up in the action – it's simply to "get the hell out of the way" and let him play.
his dominant presence creates space for players like maxey, watford, barlow, and walker to showcase their skills and adapt to his unique style. it's like they're playing a game of chess, each player trying to outmaneuver the other on the court 
barlow's instinctive play with embiid is a key factor in their success, and it just goes to show that sometimes, less planning can lead to more effective results 
. Watford's unorthodox style could b an asset or a liability depending on how he adapts 2 Embiid's game. Barlow & Walker r doin well so far but its gonna take more than just talent 4 them 2 make it in the playoffs 
he's got this dominant style but it requires others to adapt & complement his moves, like maxey who's getting into a groove with him 
watford's unorthodox style might be an asset when playing off embiid tho 
. barlow and walker seem like decent players but we still need more depth and firepower in this lineup 
. also, jabari walker saying he's filling gaps sounds a bit too rehearsed to me 
. gotta see how they handle when embiid gets hurt or is having an off night... that's when their true colors will show 
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His teammates are learning to be flexible and anticipate his moves, which is huge for their success 
Trendon Watford's unorthodox style might just work out, and Barlow has found a groove with Embiid 
Jabari Walker's role in filling the gaps for Embiid makes total sense, he's like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly 
It's all about creating space for Embiid to shine, and I'm hyped to see how this plays out 
. His PER (Player Efficiency Rating) is now at 18.5, up from 16.4 last season 
. Meanwhile, Trendon Watford's usage rate has dropped to 14.1%, indicating that the team is getting more value out of him as a facilitator rather than a primary scorer 
. Dom Barlow's block percentage is at 7.3% this season, which is 2.5% higher than his career average 
.