Sixers coach Brett Brown, speaking at his annual luncheon this afternoon, provided insight into his expectations for the upcoming season. Most notably, touching on the starting point guard mystery and Joel Embiid’s role with the team this season.
For Embiid, a Kansas product that was drafted two and a half years ago, his long-awaited debut is finally in sight. Coach Brown expects big things out of the seven-footer, particularly on the defensive end.
“He needs to be the crown jewel, the centerpiece of our defense”, Brown told reporters on Thursday.
Embiid, primarily known for his strengths on the offensive end, must impress his coach on both ends in order to earn playing time.
“When we go down to the other end of the floor, I feel like it’s my job to tap into his strengths, and I think he has many”, said Brown.
While one piece of focus has been on the Sixers’ jammed frontcourt rotation, with the possibility of a trade going down looming all summer long, another focus has been on who coach Brown will decide to start at point guard.
Philadelphia signed overseas sensation Sergio Rodriguez to a free-agent deal this offseason, leading many to wonder if he’d be named starter over Jerryd Bayless.
“I’d give Bayless the ball and go from there”, Brown said, essentially saying Bayless would be his choice to start right now.
Bayless averaged 10.4 points in 52 games with the Bucks last season, shooting an eye-popping 44% from deep. It appears as though he’ll get the nod as the team’s starting point guard, with Sergio Rodriguez likely to start the season off the bench.
