Philadelphia 76ers Exhibit Strategic Resilience Amidst Joel Embiid's Early Season Limitations

The Philadelphia 76ers are demonstrating an unprecedented ability to thrive despite their franchise cornerstone, Joel Embiid, operating under a minutes restriction and experiencing career-low efficiency to start the 2025-26 NBA season. Historically, the 76ers’ fortunes have been inextricably linked to Embiid’s health and on-court dominance. Years marred by his significant absences or reduced impact typically translated into disappointing campaigns for the team. For instance, in a season where Embiid played only 19 games, the Sixers managed a mere 24 victories. Two seasons prior, his participation in 39 games saw Philadelphia finish seventh in their conference, culminating in a first-round playoff exit against the New York Knicks.

This season presents a stark contrast to those past struggles. Embiid, currently averaging a career-low 17.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, is also shooting a career-worst 42.3% from the field. Yet, against this backdrop of diminished individual output from their superstar, Philadelphia has commenced the season with a respectable 5-3 record and boasts the second-best offensive rating in the league. This performance defies historical precedent, where such inefficiency from Embiid would typically signal a downturn, prompting discussions of tanking among the fanbase. The traditional narrative suggested the team’s success was directly correlated to Embiid’s peak performance and availability, a truth that now appears to be undergoing a significant re-evaluation.

A pivotal shift in the team’s dynamics is evident in Embiid’s on/off court statistics. For years, the absence of Embiid from the floor invariably led to a precipitous drop in the 76ers’ offensive production. Excluding the anomalous previous season, data since 2020 consistently showed Philadelphia scoring an average of 7.4 fewer points per 100 possessions when Embiid was on the bench. His stature as one of the league’s most effective offensive forces made him arguably the single most indispensable player to his team’s success.

However, the 2025-26 season has fundamentally altered this pattern. For the first time in recent memory, the Sixers’ offense has not only maintained but marginally improved when Embiid is resting on the bench. The team’s offensive rating with Embiid off the court currently stands at 121.5 points per 100 possessions, a slight but significant increase of 1.5 points compared to when he is on the court (120.0 points per 100 possessions). This marks a remarkable departure from the trends observed in previous seasons:

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Season	Sixers points per 100 possessions (On court)	Sixers points per 100 possessions (Off court)
2025-26	120.0	121.5
2024-25	105.5	113.0
2023-24	120.7	114.8
2022-23	120.9	114.7
2021-22	116.9	109.7
2020-21	119.1	108.7

This shift, while numerically modest in its current form, represents a substantial philosophical and tactical victory for the franchise as it navigates the unpredictable nature of Embiid’s availability. Head Coach Nick Nurse explicitly addressed this strategic pivot prior to Philadelphia’s recent loss to the Chicago Bulls. "I think the biggest thing is, we wanted to get some more depth," Nurse stated. "We wanted to get some more speed, more athleticism. Just to be ready to play in case he’s in or he’s not. They understand he didn’t play a ton last year and we knew he’d be out some this year until he gets back in the fold. So I think we just wanted to make sure we could try to function a little better and a little differently when he isn’t available."

Even Embiid himself has acknowledged and welcomed this newfound offensive resilience. Following Philadelphia’s victory against the Charlotte Hornets, when questioned about the team’s improved play without him—a persistent issue in prior seasons—the seven-time All-Star offered a knowing correction and a smile. "It’s been 12 years, so I’ll take it," Embiid remarked. "Just got to keep it going. Obviously the most important games are the best teams and the playoffs. If that’s the effort we’re going to have when I’m not on the floor, amen. It’s been a long time."

A significant factor contributing to this newfound offensive dynamism is the influx of talent, particularly in the backcourt. The addition of VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 draft, has been instrumental. Edgecombe, alongside the ascendant Tyrese Maxey, forms a formidable backcourt tandem that has allowed the Sixers to play at an accelerated pace and generate significant offensive opportunities in transition. Maxey, already recognized for his speed and scoring prowess, has elevated his game further, currently ranking second in the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game. Edgecombe, however, has exceeded expectations with his immediate effectiveness. This duo has propelled Philadelphia to its highest transition efficiency in years:

Season	Transition frequency	Points per possession	Points per game
2025-26	19.0%	1.26	28.3
2024-25	17.4%	1.15	22.0
2023-24	16.7%	1.19	21.9
2022-23	15.4%	1.21	19.9
2021-22	13.6%	1.19	17.1
2020-21	16.5%	1.13	20.8

Through the initial eight games of the season, Edgecombe is averaging 17.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, shooting an impressive 39.1% from beyond the arc. His seamless integration and chemistry with Maxey suggest a partnership that belies their limited time together. When either Maxey or Edgecombe rotates to the bench, Coach Nurse can call upon Quentin Grimes, who is already being discussed as a frontrunner for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Grimes is delivering a career-high 18.3 points per game off the bench, providing an explosive scoring punch and a dangerous 3-point threat.

Further reinforcing this depth is second-year guard Jared McCain, who recently made his season debut against the Bulls after recovering from a torn meniscus sustained in December 2024. McCain was on track to contend for Rookie of the Year honors last season, and his anticipated return to form could potentially grant the Sixers—alongside the Oklahoma City Thunder—arguably the deepest backcourt in the entire league.

This robust backcourt depth has been a primary catalyst for the Sixers’ strong start, particularly as Embiid works to regain full game shape after missing the majority of the preseason. While Embiid’s defensive gravity and the attention he commands from opposing defenses undoubtedly create better scoring opportunities for players like Edgecombe, Grimes, and Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia is no longer solely reliant on channeling its entire offense through the dominant big man.

Instead, the team is exhibiting a more balanced and diversified offensive approach. There has been a discernible reduction in Embiid’s post-up and isolation plays, replaced by an increased emphasis on pick-and-roll actions involving Maxey, Edgecombe, and Grimes. This strategic shift is evident in Embiid’s play types:

Season	Pick and roll	Post-up	Isolation	Spot-up
2025-26	24.7%	18.6%	12.4%	15.5%
2024-25	24.7%	19.3%	14.0%	9.8%
2023-24	16.6%	19.2%	18.5%	10.1%
2022-23	22.4%	17.1%	23.0%	11.4%
2021-22	16.1%	27.3%	17.0%	11.8%
2020-21	12.7%	35.8%	12.6%	11.2%

The current season shows a notable increase in Embiid’s pick-and-roll involvement compared to earlier years, while his post-up and isolation frequencies have decreased from their peaks. This indicates a deliberate move away from solely relying on Embiid’s brute force, instead leveraging the creation abilities of the guards. Maxey, Edgecombe, Grimes, and potentially McCain, once fully integrated, are all capable of generating their own offense or delivering the ball to Embiid in more advantageous positions for efficient shots.

This adjustment in Embiid’s usage is also designed to mitigate the physical toll on his body, a critical consideration given his injury history. "I’m hoping that he’s still probably going to do a lot," Coach Nurse acknowledged, "He’s a magnetic player on both ends of the floor, but I’m hoping for more variety, right? I keep talking to them about different spots, different players, him and different players. Letting things come to the offense more than than just always through him. I think it’ll just make us function better. I think it’ll take some of the—just even the way that you say, it puts a lot on him, to have to do all that sometimes. Hopefully it’ll help some of our longevity through the season as a team too."

While it remains a small sample size, and the potential integration of Paul George—who has been participating in practice and whose return is anticipated soon—is yet to be factored in, the early returns are unequivocally positive. Even with a version of Embiid still working his way back to full form, the Sixers possess the versatility and depth to be offensively creative. This strategic pivot has effectively distributed the offensive burden, alleviating some of the pressure traditionally placed solely on Embiid’s shoulders.

Embiid’s health and peak performance will undoubtedly remain crucial for the 76ers’ aspirations of a deep playoff run. However, this encouraging start to the season provides a critical reassurance: Philadelphia is demonstrating that it no longer has to live and die with Embiid’s individual performance on a nightly basis, signaling a potentially more resilient and sustainable path forward.