Joel Embiid didn’t dance around the issue Thursday morning: the 76ers have work to do, and he knows he’s part of the problem.
Asked what Philadelphia has learned through its first 12 games, Embiid kept it blunt. “We got a long way to go,” the center said.
“Obviously, offensively and defensively, we’re not where we want to be. But, you know, a pretty good start; I think it’s pretty exciting that we all feel like we’re not even close to doing what we should be doing.
We just got to keep getting better.”
That message lands at a strange moment for the Sixers. On one hand, they’re 9-3 and sitting with the Eastern Conference’s second-best record. On the other, the numbers on offense are ugly: Philadelphia is 24th in scoring at 110.2 points per game, 24th in field-goal percentage at 44.0%, 20th in assists at 25.7, 22nd in offensive rating at 109.8 and 22nd in three-point shooting at 33.7%.
The timing makes Thursday night’s matchup with the Raptors feel like a chance to steady things after Tuesday’s 123-101 loss to the Celtics. The game is the second of three straight at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and Toronto comes in at 5-6 after dropping two in a row and five of its last seven.
The Raptors also arrive short-handed. Kawhi Leonard is out while managing a left knee injury, Scottie Barnes is sidelined with a left groin strain, and Bate Bittle and Trayce Jackson-Davis are also unavailable.
Philadelphia has its own injury list to navigate. LeBron James will sit out to manage low back/sciatica issues, while Adem Bona remains out with a cervical spine sprain and Dom Barlow is sidelined by a low back stress reaction. Embiid is still listed as questionable because of a right foot plantar fascia injury.
Still, his presence at Thursday morning’s shooting session and his availability to the media pointed toward a possible return, and Embiid said he’s not overlooking Toronto’s depleted roster.
They are a “physical team. Tough game, obviously,” Embiid said.
“Having played them over the years, that’s what they play at. So we just got to be ready.”
The Sixers beat Toronto 115-102 on Jan. 12 in their last meeting. Before that, the Raptors had taken six of seven against the Atlantic Division rivals.
For Embiid, the fix starts with effort and accountability. The seven-time All-Star is shooting 37.0% from the field and 12.1% from three, and he said the offensive issues aren’t just on the group as a whole.
“And I also put it on myself,” Embiid said. “I just go to be better.”
He went a step further when talking about the team’s half-court offense, which has often bogged down into iso-ball.
“We got a long way to go, but I think everything - it all boils down to shot-making,” Embiid said. “I think, you know, I’ve said it so many times, it feels crowded.
But I think it’s also because I have to make shots. So yeah, I put it on me.”
In Other News...
76ers Injury Trouble Just Opened A Door The Raptors Need
Scottie Barnes will miss a fourth straight game with a left groin strain, leaving the Raptors without one of their most important two-way players as they get ready to face the 76ers. Toronto has already felt the impact of Barnes absence on both ends of the floor, and with Kawhi Leonard also unavailable, the rotation is being pushed into a thinner, more uncertain shape than the team would prefer at this point.
Still, the matchup comes with a chance for Toronto to keep pressing forward against a Philadelphia group dealing with its own injury issues. LeBron James is out, Joel Embiid is questionable, and the Raptors will need more from the next wave of contributors, including Jamal Shead and Collin Murray-Boyles, to help cover the ground Barnes usually handles. For a team looking to stay afloat through the injuries, this is the kind of game where the margins matter. [Read more 🡒]
RJ Barrett Is Giving The Raptors A Tough Trade Deadline Decision
RJ Barretts recent stretch has only sharpened the questions around his place in Torontos long-term plans. As one of the Raptors primary scoring options, he has been asked to carry a heavy offensive load, but the results have been uneven, with his shooting and defensive impact both swinging from game to game. His outing against the Boston Celtics summed up the concern, as he finished with 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting while continuing to battle the kind of shot selection issues that can stall an offense.
With the trade deadline approaching, Barretts inconsistency is putting the Raptors in a difficult spot. Toronto has to weigh the value of his scoring upside against the reality that his fit has not yet looked settled, especially when his three-point shooting and defensive reliability are part of the conversation. For a team trying to clarify its direction, Barretts uneven play has turned into one of the more important decisions on the board. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Face Another Brutal Test Without A Key Starter
The Raptors are heading into another difficult matchup shorthanded, with Scottie Barnes, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kawhi Leonard all ruled out for their game against the 76ers. It is the kind of injury report that changes the feel of a night before the opening tip, especially for a Toronto group already trying to stay afloat through a stretch of absences.
Philadelphia has its own uncertainty, with LeBron James out and Joel Embiid listed as questionable for the 7:00 pm ET meeting. Even with the other side dealing with some missing names, Toronto still has to find enough creation and defensive resistance to survive a game that suddenly looks a lot more about depth than star power. [Read more 🡒]