For as long as Joel Embiid dons ‘PHILA’ across the front of his jersey, the Philadelphia 76ers will have a strong defense. He’s a one-man defensive system — a mobile, rangy 7-foot-2 hulk who can survive switches and engulf the paint. Funnel things toward Embiid as much as possible, and good things will happen.
This season, the Sixers’ strong interior presence has only gotten stronger. Al Horford adds a new layer, and his presence will allow Philadelphia to not get dusted every time Embiid sits. What puts the new-look Sixers on an elite level, however, isn’t Embiid and Horford.