Joel Embiid is a man of many needs. He wants more minutes. He wants to play in back-to-back games for the Philadelphia 76ers. Mainly, he wants to be a productive, useful NBA player. Just like the rest of us.
Embiid’s latest desire, though, is not merely a personal wish. He wants the Sixers to utilize him where he’s at his best, both for himself and the sake of the team. Following a frustrating game against the Boston Celtics, Embiid is now asking for more touches in the paint.
He told the media on Saturday that he needs to see the ball more when he’s around the rim, continuing a string of asks through the media in this young NBA season.
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Embiid’s requests certainly aren’t without merit. He’s a 7-footer who can dominate in the post when given the chance. On Friday night, those chances were pretty rare.
“We need to go to the tape and find a way to get me the ball in the post,” Embiid said after the game. “Since I wasn’t doing that, I felt like I had to go outside and make something happen to help us win.”
Embiid, who struggled through what coach Brett Brown termed “his most difficult offensive game as a Philadelphia 76er,” went to the outside and the Boston Celtics were fine with that, especially when Embiid went 0-for-6 on three-point attempts.
Embiid’s value is that he can hit from the outside as well, though that was clearly not working on Friday night. His versatility is an asset. But when one part of his game isn’t working, he’s right to wonder why he’s not getting more opportunities to cook on the inside. The Sixers will be a work in progress much of the season, but it’s clear that Embiid is comfortable asking for what he wants, even if it is done in a very public way.
