One Team, Three Stats: Behind Embiid, Sixers lock down defensively
Opponents are shooting just 37 percent from the field in January when Joel Embiid is on the floor.
Over the last four weeks, four teams have won at least three quarters of their games: The Golden State Warriors (11-2), the Atlanta Hawks (11-3), the San Antonio Spurs (10-3) and … the Philadelphia 76ers (10-3).
The process is bearing fruit. And while the Sixers’ success has been mostly about “The Process,” their improvement since a 4-18 start has been about more than just Joel Embiid. In their first 22 games, the Sixers were 3-11 with Embiid and 1-7 without him. Over their last 22 games, they’re 10-6 with Embiid and 3-3 without him.
When Embiid starting talking playoffs a couple of weeks ago, it sounded crazy. But the Sixers’ 10-3 run, along with the struggles of some of the teams ahead of them, has them within three games in the loss column of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.