Philadelphia 76ers: 5 goals for Joel Embiid in 2017-18

4. Improve short-range game

One of Embiid’s most impressive feats as a rookie was his ability to score from almost anywhere on the court. Overall, Embiid shot at a 46.6 percent clip from the field, and a 36.7 percent clip from 3-point range — both terrific returns for a rookie. Furthermore, he attempted 7.9 free throws per game, converting at a 78.3 percent clip.

In fact, Embiid led the league in free throw attempts per game on a per 36 minutes basis.

But one area in which he was below average was between 5-14 feet from the rim. Over the season, Embiid converted at a 34.7 percent clip from this range. Considering this made up 23.5 percent of his total field goal attempts for the season, it’s certainly worth pointing out.

Furthermore, while his 58.8 percent conversion rate within five feet of the rim on 5.8 attempts per game was solid, it still fell short of many of his rival centers. Among all centers who averaged at least 3.5 attempts per game, Embiid ranked 32nd overall.

As can be seen by his free throw attempt rate, attacking the rim is part-and-parcel of Embiid’s approach on offense. So considering his shot attempts within five feet of the rim made up 41.3 percent of his total field goal attempts, ramping up his conversion rate should be a central focus heading into the season.