Once arch rivals, the new pairing of Joel Embiid and Al Horford promises to be an intriguing storyline for the Philadelphia 76ers this coming season.
Following 12 months of upheaval and uncertainty, it’s understandable that the Philadelphia 76ers will be look forward to a period of stability.
In addition to the departures of Robert Covington and Dario Saric that saw them welcome in Jimmy Butler, the Sixers last season also brought aboard forward Tobias Harris in exchange for multiple first-round picks and exciting rookie Landry Shamet.
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And that’s not to mention the ongoing saga with former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz, who was also eventually shipped out prior to the trade deadline.
Despite all these changes, the Sixers still managed to record 51 wins, culminating in an eventual second-round playoff exit at the hands of the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors.
So while their overall output for the season virtually replicated the season prior, one area in which they took a step back was at the defensive end of the floor.
"The possibility of teaming up with him got me really excited."@Al_Horford talks about joining forces with @JoelEmbiid. #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/hkF7rnSnFl
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 12, 2019
After finishing third overall in 2017-18 with a 103.9 defensive rating, the Sixers placed 14th last season with a 109.0 rating. Given the revolving roster presented to head coach Brett Brown, such a drop in their defensive output is understandable.
As a result, general manager Elton Brand went to work this summer.
It commenced with the sign-and-trade transaction that saw Jimmy Butler make way for Josh Richardson. While Butler remains one of the elite two-way players in the league, Richardson is still just 25, and one of the real emerging performers at both ends of the floor.
To illustrate this, only two players in the league over the past two seasons have recorded at least 290 triples, 200 steals and 100 blocks, per Basketball Reference — James Harden and Richardson.
Brand followed this up with the signing of veteran free agent Al Horford. A five-time All-Star and a member of the 2018 NBA All-Defensive Second Team, Horford brings an elite combination of veteran savvy, elite defense and an excellent locker room presence.
Despite recently turning 33, the Celtics were a whopping 17.2 points per 100 possessions better off during their most recent playoff stint with Horford on the floor.
Let’s talk about résumés. pic.twitter.com/J1bAObjp0M
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 11, 2019
On top of all that Horford brings to the table, it will be his partnership with Joel Embiid that will be most telling this season.
Last season, the Sixers were 11.1 points per 100 possessions better off during the regular season with Embiid on the floor, with this number jumping to a ludicrous 42.4 points per 100 possessions during the postseason.
In addition to playing next to Embiid at the 4-spot, it will be his ability to slide into the center spot when Embiid is either resting or not playing that will be of vital importance to the Sixers.
A prime example of the need to find a suitable backup for Embiid was the Sixers’ seven-game playoff loss to the Raptors.
Over the 99 minutes in which Embiid was off the floor during the series, the Sixers were a -109 with a -52.5 net rating. Considering they lost the series on a buzzer-beater in Game 7, making up for this significant difference in production is going to be invaluable moving forward.
Furthermore, the sheer presence of an Embiid-Horford frontcourt will be a mouthwatering prospect for coach Brown and his staff.
Last season, when paired with fellow center Aron Baynes, Horford and the Celtics produced an outstanding 20.4 net rating in the 163 minutes they played together. Considering the upgrade that comes with playing alongside Embiid, the potential is limitless as far as this duo is concerned.
In the midst of the Sixers’ 2018 second round playoff series loss to the Boston Celtics, coach Brown noted the following:
Brett Brown on Horford: “I mean, how good is he?...If we didn’t appreciate Al Horford by now, we’d better wake up.”
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) May 7, 2018
Not only will Horford assist them in numerous ways this season and beyond, his addition also means the Sixers will avoid having to matchup against him come the business end of the season.
Given his ability to both stretch the floor and battle down low, Horford is one of the few players in the league that has given Embiid genuine problems in a head-to-head matchup since he’s entered the league.
However, now that he’s a Sixer, the dynamic future partnership of Joel Embiid and Al Horford promises to be one of the more intriguing storylines in the league.