How do you fit alongside Joel Embiid? Sixers teammates on 'filling gaps' and when to 'just get the hell out of the way'

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"Living with a Giant: Fitting in Alongside Joel Embiid"

The Philadelphia 76ers' training facility has become an experiment of sorts, with one team – and one player – at the center. Joel Embiid is the undisputed giant on the court, his size and skill drawing multiple defenders like moths to a flame. But when it comes to his teammates, the game becomes a delicate dance.

For Tyrese Maxey, Trendon Watford, Dominick Barlow, and Jabari Walker, life alongside Embiid means understanding that "it takes a lot" – a good feel for the game, patience, and an ability to adapt. The key is finding ways to complement Embiid's dominance without getting in his way.

Watford, a 6-foot-8 point forward with an unorthodox style, has struggled to fit into the mix. When he finally made his season debut, coach Nick Nurse saw potential in throwing him into the fray and seeing how things shook out. The result was mixed – Watford had a promising start before going down again. Now, nurse is taking it slow, protecting Watford from another injury and preserving the power forward rotation.

Watford's solution to playing alongside Embiid? Focus on being another ball-handler in pick-and-roll plays, finding Embiid when he gets doubled up and leaving him with open space in the post. "It's an instinct thing," his teammate Barlow notes about their dynamic.

A similar sentiment comes from Jabari Walker, who has become a critical component of Nurse's frontcourt rotation. For Walker, it's all about filling gaps – finding ways to accentuate Embiid's abilities when they share the floor. When teams double-team Embiid, Walker moves to the middle of the floor, creating space for an easy pass that gets him the ball and Embiid moving.

Embiid has credited Walker with doing what he can't do on every possession – going after loose balls and crashing the offensive glass. With Barlow and Walker by his side, Embiid is freed from some of the heavy lifting on defense and as a rebounder, giving him mental relief in a game where that matters.

But make no mistake – when Embiid is in the game, the Sixers have ultimate leverage over opposing defenses. He's unstoppable as a one-on-one scorer, drawing defenders like a magnet. And for his teammates? The key is learning to "get the hell out of the way."

"I've learned that sometimes," Barlow says, "you've just got to step aside and let him play." It's a lesson that requires patience, trust, and a willingness to adjust on the fly – skills that Maxey, Watford, Barlow, and Walker are slowly learning. As they navigate this complex dance with Embiid at the center, it remains to be seen whether the Sixers can find their groove – but one thing is clear: when he's in the game, Philly's got a good chance of success.
 
🤔 I think what's fascinating about Embiid's dynamic with his teammates is how they're being forced to adapt and find ways to complement his dominance. It's almost like an experiment in team chemistry, where the Sixers are trying out different strategies to see what works best when Embiid is on the court.

I mean, for Watford, it's all about finding ways to be a secondary ball-handler in pick-and-roll plays, which requires a certain level of instinct and trust with his teammates. And for Walker, it's more about filling gaps and creating space for Embiid to operate, which requires a certain level of vision and court awareness.

It's also interesting to see how Embiid himself is affected by having these players around him - like when he gets doubled up, he needs Walker to create space for an easy pass. It's almost like they're creating this symbiotic relationship where each player feeds into the other's strengths.

Ultimately, I think the key to success with a team like the Sixers is finding that delicate balance between letting Embiid take over and creating enough space for him to operate without getting in his way. It's not an easy task, but if they can figure it out, Philly could be unstoppable 🏀
 
.. playing alongside a giant like Joel Embiid must really test your limits. I mean, you gotta be willing to step aside and let him do his thing, 'cause at the end of the day, he's just too darn dominant 🤯. It's kinda like life, you know? We're all trying to make our own mark on the world, but sometimes that means learning to take a backseat and let others shine.

It's interesting how Tyrese Maxey is struggling to find his place alongside Embiid. He's got potential, but it feels like he's still finding his footing 🤔. Maybe that's the key – not trying to fit in with Embiid, but finding your own way of contributing to the team. It's a lesson I think we can all relate to. Sometimes you gotta take a step back and figure out who you are outside of what others expect from you.
 
🤯 I mean come on, have you seen Embiid's size and skill on the court? It's like he's playing a different game out there! 🏀 But seriously, I think Watford needs to chill out a bit, focus on his own game instead of trying to keep up with Em. His pick-and-roll plays are solid, but he can't just be trying to find Em all the time, that's not how it works. And what's with Barlow saying "get the hell out of the way"? Like, isn't that a little harsh? Can't they just support each other on defense? 🤷‍♂️🏀
 
Its crazy how much pressure Joel Embiid puts on his teammates 🤯. Like, I get it, hes an amazing player and all, but come on, cant they just play their own game for once? 😂. But at the same time, its kinda cool to see them try to figure out how to fit in with him. Tyrese Maxey's been looking pretty sharp lately 💯. And yeah, it makes sense that Jabari Walker's been doing well too, filling gaps and creating space for Embiid. Its like they're all learning to play off each other's strengths 🤝. The thing is, when Embiid's in the game, its almost impossible for opposing teams to stop him 🔥. Thats gotta be mentally tough for his teammates to deal with 😅.
 
🤔 The dynamics at play here are quite fascinating. I think it's essential for Embiid's teammates to recognize that his size and skillset bring immense value to the team, but also create unique challenges in terms of space and positioning on the court. By focusing on being a complementary piece, rather than trying to be the primary scorer, they can optimize their chances of success.

It's interesting to see how Watford is adjusting his game to fit alongside Embiid, by becoming more of a ball-handler in pick-and-roll plays. And I love how Barlow and Walker are finding ways to accentuate Embiid's strengths, such as crashing the boards and creating space for easy passes.

Ultimately, it's all about trust and patience. The Sixers need their teammates to be willing to step aside and let Embiid take over, rather than trying to force their own shots or plays. By embracing this role, I believe they can create a truly dominant team with Embiid at the helm 🏀
 
Embiid's dominance on the court is just another reason why his teammates are struggling to get recognition 🤷‍♂️. Watford's injury problems and lack of playing time are a major concern for the team, and it's not like he's been able to make a significant impact when he does get on the court 💔. The way Barlow is being forced to step aside and let Embiid take over is a recipe for disaster – what happens when they face teams that can actually keep up with Embiid? 🤯 And don't even get me started on Maxey's struggles to fit in, it's like he's just another forgotten cog in the machine 🚫. The Sixers' season is already looking pretty bleak 🌧️.
 
I think its dope how these guys are figuring out how to work together with Joel Embiid 🤝. Its like they're learning to dance around his giant frame, finding ways to complement him without getting caught up in the chaos 😂. Tyrese and Jabari are already showing promise, and Trendon's got some weird style vibes going on that might just pay off 🤪. The thing is, with a player as dominant as Embiid, you've gotta be willing to step aside and let him take over – its all about trusting the process and knowing when to let him shine 💫. As long as they keep adapting and learning from each other, I think Philly's got a shot at making some noise in the playoffs 🔥
 
Man, playing alongside a giant like Joel Embiid is defo a unique experience. I've had friends who play on rec leagues and they're always like "dude, try not to get beat by 7ft" 😂. But seriously, it's all about finding your role and complementing his dominance without getting in the way.

I remember watching a game where my fave player was trying to keep up with this 6'10" dude who was just dominating everything. He'd be driving to the hoop and the guy would just block him or swat the ball away like it was nothing 🤯. My friend was like "man, I'm not even gonna try anymore" 😂. But in all seriousness, it's hard when you're trying to keep up with someone who's that good.

I think the key is for your teammates to focus on being a safety valve, finding ways to get open and create space for Embiid to operate. And for Embiid, it's about trusting his teammates to make plays and not getting too caught up in trying to do everything himself 🤝. It's all about chemistry and trust at that point.

Anyway, I feel like the Sixers are on the right track by focusing on their strengths and playing to Embiid's abilities. It's gonna be interesting to see how it all unfolds 🤔
 
I'm low-key impressed by how the 76ers are making Embiid work in tandem with his teammates 🤯. It's all about finding that delicate balance between complementing him and not getting in his way 🔄. Watford's unorthodox style is interesting, but I think he needs to focus on being a reliable ball-handler in pick-and-roll plays to really make an impact 🔁. And Barlow's got a good point - sometimes you just gotta step aside and let Embiid do his thing 😅. It's not easy, but if they can figure it out, the Sixers could be unstoppable 🚀
 
lol @ these small guys trying to keep up with Joel Embiid 🤣🏀 so I mean, I get it, you gotta adapt and stuff... Tyrese Maxey needs to work on being less reckless and Trendon Watford just needs to stop trying too hard (it's a thing). On the bright side, they do have Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow who are like the cool kids in school – not too flashy but getting the job done. It's all about Embiid being the rockstar that he is 🤟‍♂️, everyone else just needs to step aside and let him shine. And honestly, it kinda works... when he's on, Philly's got a good chance of winning ⚡️
 
🤯 I'm lovin' how the 76ers are workin' around Embiid's massive presence 🤝! It's all about findin' that sweet spot where they can complement his dominance without gettin' in the way 🔄. Watford's unorthodox style is actually kinda genius 💡, and Barlow's just tryna step aside and let Joel do his thang 😂. The key is bein' able to adapt on the fly and trust that Embiid's got this 🕰️. And with Walker bringin' the energy on the glass 🏆, it's a match made in heaven 🌠. Philly's got a good shot at success when Embiid's runnin' wild 🎉 #SixersNation #NBA #JoelEmbiid
 
IT'S LIKE JOEL EMBIID IS A FORCE OF NATURE ON THE COURT, YOU KNOW? HE'S GOT THAT UNSTOPPABLE ENERGY AND SKILL COMBO THAT MAKES HIM ALMOST UNBEATABLE ONE-ON-ONE 🤯. BUT FOR HIS TEAMMATES, IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING WAYS TO COMPLEMENT HIM WITHOUT GETTING IN THE WAY. I MEAN, CAN YOU BLAME THEM FOR WANTING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EMBIID'S DOMINANCE? BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY JUST LET HIM DO HIS THING AND STEP ASIDE WHENEVER POSSIBLE, THE SIXERS COULD BE UNSTOPPABLE 💪. IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE, FOR SURE, BUT WITH GUYS LIKE WATFORD AND BARLOW LEARNING TO ADAPT, I THINK PHILLY'S GOT A GOOD CHANCE OF MAKING SOME NOISE IN THE PLAYOFFS 🎯
 
I gotta say, its pretty easy for these guys to get overshadowed by Embiid's greatness 🤷‍♂️. Theres no way Tyrese Maxey and Jabari Walker are just gonna "step aside" and let him have all the ball 🙄. They need to take some ownership of their games and stop relying on Barlow and Watford to save them. And can we talk about how Watford's unorthodox style is being wasted? He needs to find a way to complement his weirdness, not just be another ball-handler in pick-and-rolls 😂. The Sixers need to figure out how to utilize their full roster if they wanna make some noise this season ⚡️
 
so i think its cool how the 76ers are trying to balance embiid's dominance with their other players. 🤔

like imagine a venn diagram between embiid and his teammates... on one side you have embiid, who can basically do everything himself ( 🤯🏀), and on the other side you have watford, maxey, barlow, and walker, who are all trying to find their role alongside him.

watford's solution is to be a ball-handler in pick-and-roll plays... 🔄 which makes sense because it allows him to support embiid without getting in his way. and barlow says its like an instinct thing... 🤷‍♂️ but i think its more about trust - trusting that watford will make the right pass.

for me, its all about visualizing how these players work together on the court... 📈 imagine embiid at the center of a triangle, with his teammates on either side. when teams double-team him, walker moves to create space for an easy pass... 🔁 and barlow steps aside and lets embiid play.

anyway... i think its a cool dynamic to watch unfold as these players learn to work together with embiid at the center. 🤗
 
🤩 So like, I was watching this video of Joel Embiid playing and I'm just thinking how cool it must be to have him on your team 🤯. But at the same time, I get why his teammates are struggling to fit in – he's literally a giant on the court 😂! For me, as a student, it reminds me when we're working on group projects and one person always seems to do more work than everyone else. You just gotta know how to work together and complement each other's strengths, right? 🤝 Like, Tyrese Maxey said something about finding ways to "get the hell out of the way" – that makes total sense, you gotta trust your teammates and let them take over when they can 💪! Anyway, I'm curious to see how the 76ers keep improving with Embiid leading the team 🤔.
 
You know I feel for those guys playing alongside Embiid 🤣, like they're trying to navigate an obstacle course every time they step on the court! 😂 They gotta find their own rhythm and not get caught up in trying to keep up with him. It's like a big game of musical chairs, except instead of chairs, it's basketball 🏀. And let's be real, Embiid is the king 👑 - he draws all the attention, so the rest of them gotta be patient and let him do his thing 💡.
 
I think its wild how much pressure these young guys are put under having to play with Embiid every day 🤯. They gotta be super chill and adaptable if they wanna make it work, you know? I mean, its cool that Watford is finding ways to contribute by being a ball-handler in pick-and-rolls - that's actually pretty clever 💡. And Walker's just being his awesome self, going after loose balls and rebounding 🏀. For these guys, its all about trusting the process and letting Embiid do his thing... until he needs them to step aside and let him shine through 😊.
 
🤯 I'm loving how the 76ers are experimenting with Joel Embiid as the anchor on the court and how his teammates are having to adapt to fit around him 👏! Tyrese Maxey is gonna have to work on being more patient and letting Embiid take over in those pick-and-roll plays 🙏. And can we talk about Jabari Walker for a sec? He's doing an amazing job of filling gaps and creating space for Embiid, it's like they're reading each other's minds 💡. The key to success is finding that balance between complementing Embiid's dominance without getting in his way 🤝. I'm excited to see how this dynamic plays out and whether the Sixers can find their groove with Embiid leading the charge 🔥!
 
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