To fit alongside Joel Embiid, Sixers teammates have had to learn a new language - one that involves filling gaps, moving out of the way, and letting their dominant big man do his thing. It's a delicate balance, where those playing alongside Embiid must adapt to his unique style of play.
Tyrese Maxey, who has become an expert on working with Embiid after numerous teaming sessions, notes that "it takes a lot" to get it right. The young guard emphasizes the importance of having a good feel for the game and being able to anticipate Embiid's movements. It's a skillset that not everyone possesses, especially those who grew up playing against dominant bigs.
Embiid, meanwhile, is the catalyst for this new era of Sixers basketball. As he enjoys his healthiest stretch in over two years, the team can finally explore what it means to be truly title-contending with their star on the floor. But with Embiid's unparalleled dominance as a scorer comes significant risks - teams will often double him, forcing his teammates to find creative ways to get open.
For those playing alongside Embiid, like Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker, the key is to fill in the gaps and let him do what he does best: play pick-and-roll with Barlow. It's a system that requires trust and instinct - both from Watford and Embiid. As the point forward explains, "when I'm out there with him...we have a small sample size, obviously...but I think he trusts me to handle the ball."
The dynamic between these players is complex, but it boils down to giving Embiid space to operate. It's not always easy - like when Barlow notes that sometimes you just need to "get the hell out of the way." But in those moments, when teams double Embiid or try to shut him down, his teammates must be ready to capitalize on the openings they create.
Ultimately, it comes down to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of playing alongside a once-in-a-generation talent like Joel Embiid. With great power comes great responsibility - and for these players, that means learning to play around their star while also embracing the unique challenges he brings to the table.
Tyrese Maxey, who has become an expert on working with Embiid after numerous teaming sessions, notes that "it takes a lot" to get it right. The young guard emphasizes the importance of having a good feel for the game and being able to anticipate Embiid's movements. It's a skillset that not everyone possesses, especially those who grew up playing against dominant bigs.
Embiid, meanwhile, is the catalyst for this new era of Sixers basketball. As he enjoys his healthiest stretch in over two years, the team can finally explore what it means to be truly title-contending with their star on the floor. But with Embiid's unparalleled dominance as a scorer comes significant risks - teams will often double him, forcing his teammates to find creative ways to get open.
For those playing alongside Embiid, like Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker, the key is to fill in the gaps and let him do what he does best: play pick-and-roll with Barlow. It's a system that requires trust and instinct - both from Watford and Embiid. As the point forward explains, "when I'm out there with him...we have a small sample size, obviously...but I think he trusts me to handle the ball."
The dynamic between these players is complex, but it boils down to giving Embiid space to operate. It's not always easy - like when Barlow notes that sometimes you just need to "get the hell out of the way." But in those moments, when teams double Embiid or try to shut him down, his teammates must be ready to capitalize on the openings they create.
Ultimately, it comes down to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of playing alongside a once-in-a-generation talent like Joel Embiid. With great power comes great responsibility - and for these players, that means learning to play around their star while also embracing the unique challenges he brings to the table.
[Image of a giant basketball with a "World Domination" flag on it]
[GIF of someone studying hard]
(Teaching players around Embiid is like learning a new language!)
[Image of someone trying to get out of the way] 
"Get the hell out of the way"! 
[GIF of lightbulb moment] Ah-ha! When in doubt, trust your teammate and handle the ball! 
like Barlow said, sometimes you just gotta "get the hell out of the way" 
. But hey, I guess it's all part of being a great big man - putting your team first and letting them shine when you're not on the court 
. The key is to find that balance, trust each other, and play off each other's strengths 
! As a fan of the Sixers, I think it's so cool to see players like Tyrese Maxey and Trendon Watford learning to work with their big man in such a unique way. It's not easy having someone who can take over games like that, but if they can trust each other and play off his strengths, watch out! 
The key is finding those gaps and creating opportunities for themselves when teams double down on Embiid. I'm excited to see how this all plays out – it's gonna be a wild ride! 
It's like, Tyrese Maxey is basically saying "good luck" to the rest of us, lol. But for real though, it's cool that he's acknowledging how tough it is and how much work goes into making it work with Embiid. I mean, I'm no expert but I'm sure it's not easy having someone who can just will a team to victory on their own. The pick-and-roll thing sounds kinda sweet tho 
. I mean, can you imagine Tyrese Maxey having to learn how to read Joel's mind on the court? 
It's like being in a real-life game of NBA 2K! But seriously, it's all about trusting each other and having that instinct to know when to make the right pass or shot. When they get it right, man, it's magic 
! And let's be real, teams are gonna try to shut him down, but that just means Embiid and his squad have to be ready to adapt and capitalize on those openings 
. And honestly, it's all about trusting each other on that pick-and-roll combo... when it works, it's magic 
. But yeah, teams are gonna try to shut him down, so we need our bigs to be able to create space and make some plays for themselves 
. And can we talk about how amazing it is when they play pick-and-roll together? 
It's like a beautiful dance, where Embiid and Barlow just mesh so well 
. The key is giving him space to operate and trust that his teammates will make the right moves. I'm all for this new dynamic - it's gonna be so much fun to watch! 
They're like, totally on board with letting Embiid do his thing 
!
, handling the ball and finding Embiid in the pick-and-roll 
. It's gonna be a wild ride, but I know the Sixers are ready for it 
. and what's even crazier is they're basically teaching each other how to play pick-and-roll around him... like, we get it joel, you can score 
.
! They just need to figure out how to balance his dominance with some creative offense. Fingers crossed, right? 
. It's not just about having skills, but also about trusting your teammate to handle the ball in those high-pressure situations 
. The thing is, it can get really frustrating when teams are double-teaming Embiid, leaving you scrambling to find an opening 
. But that's where his teammates come in - they need to be able to fill in the gaps and create opportunities for themselves while still letting Embiid do what he does best: drop 30+ points a game 
. It's all about finding that delicate balance between giving him space to shine and making plays on the open court 
, i feel like we're living in a world where some people are just meant to be superstars, like joel embiid, and they have to find ways to work around them so everyone else can shine too 
. and i love how barlow just lets embiid do his thing and creates space for him to be amazing 
. If you can't keep up, teams'll just shut him down & you're left with nothing 
. Gotta trust each other, too – it's like a beautiful dance, but with a lot of risk involved 
. Its not easy, but I think Tyrese Maxey has a point - you gotta have a good feel for the game and be able to anticipate Embiid's movements 
, but its also about trusting each other on the court 
. When Joel Embiid is doing his thing, you gotta get out of the way and let him create for himself