Mid-Season Report: How Embiid, Sixers Stack Up
From the Surface
With the 2022-2023 NBA season now well past the midway point, the Philadelphia 76ers sit at the third seed in the Western Conference. They currently have an overall record of 34-18, and won 8 of their last 10 matchups. If they continue with this steady performance, the team is on track to make the playoffs for their sixth season in a row. This year, the Sixers hope to wash away the disappointment of their recent playoff appearances, and aim to achieve their first championship win since 1983. They certainly believe they have the team to do it, so it will be interesting to see how things will unfold as we come into the final frame of this season.
The Man, the Myth…
Joel Embiid has established himself as a groundbreaking performer on the court and only continues to impress. Embiid stands at 7 feet tall, and at the Center position, he can be seen to handle and move the ball as a point guard would. He finished the month of January with an average PPG of 34.9, which was the league high. On the season, Embiid currently has an average PPG of 33.4, with an FG% of 53.1. He also has an average of 10.2 rebounds per game. Right now, arguably, Joel Embiid has proven himself to be the best player in the league, and not just statistically. Embiid is a leader, and has proven this to be apparent both on and off the court. His ability to act as a leader can be seen reflected in the performance of the entire team. His leadership definitely acts as a contributing factor as to why the Sixers have been playing the way they have. When talking statistics, Embiid is closely tailed by Mavericks’ Luka Doncic. Doncic is another outstanding performer of the league, and has Embiid tied down to the decimal for average PPG. Although they are tied, it should be pointed out that Doncic currently has played seven more games than Embiid has. Embiid’s playing time is also less than Doncic, although not significantly. This should make Embiid’s PPG and overall performance even more impressive.
Last five @NBA games of 47 points, 18 rebounds, five assists.@JoelEmbiid (today)@luka7doncic (12/27/22)@realchriswebber (1/5/01)
— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) January 28, 2023
Michael Jordan (3/28/90)
Alvan Adams (2/22/77)
Embiid and Chamberlain are the only @sixers ever to produce such a stat line.
h/t @Stathead
Off-Season Additions
During the 2022 off-season, the Sixers added some new players to their roster. Two of the most notable additions being P.J. Tucker, who was acquired as a free agent, and De’Anthony Melton, who was acquired via trade from the Grizzlies. Tucker and Harden have been teammates once before, when the two had played together on the Houston Rockets. Tucker started out well, and seemed to have been a beneficial addition to the team, especially defensively. Recently, Tucker’s performance has been questionable, with many fans being disappointed in the league veteran. At this point in the season, one may begin to question Tucker and how his play will continue down the line. De’Anthony Melton has proven himself to be a good fit for the team and continues to establish himself in this lineup. He has shown to be an effective perimeter defender and is confident in his role. He is a key contributor to what this team has shown defensively this season.
The Bottom Line
The Sixers seem to have a lot of things going right for them at this point in the season. As the playoffs begin to come into view, the team must stay persistent and hungry so that they can finish strong. If they stick with what has been working for them and continue to impress as they have been, then it should be safe to say that their ticket to this year’s playoffs is punched. This team also has Joel Embiid on their side. With someone like that leading the way, who knows what is in store for this 76ers team.