CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers are healthy. For the most part. They're still awaiting the return of Anfernee Simons, Adem Bona, and Dominick Barlow, but as far as the stars go? They're fully healthy and that's a big difference from the past.
Joel Embiid has dealt with a variety of issues over the past few seasons, and now that he's fully healthy and back from the bothersome knee issues, he has been a full go in practice in the preseason. Just having him out there is such a big help and a big difference in the early part of the season as the newcomers really understand how to play next to Embiid.
"For him to be healthy throughout the entirety, like I said, you can put in more packages," said Tyrese Maxey. There's been times when he hasn't
been healthy, and we get into the game, and now we're trying to learn in the flow. I've been here, so I kind of know where he wants to touch and all that stuff."
To Maxey's point, the Sixers will play one way when Embiid is off the floor for a long stretch, but then when he returns, all of a sudden, they need to adjust to having such a dominant player back on the floor. There are two different packages and ways Philadelphia plays.
Maxey understands this as he enters his seventh season next to the big fella, but it's important for the new additions to really figure this out as quickly as possible.
"If you haven't played with a big like Joel, there’s not many, it’s a hard, very difficult, hard thing to learn," Maxey added. "When to cut, when to slide over, and pull. So, for him being here, you can drill those things over and over and over again, and see what two weeks that you’ve had? Just drilling, drilling, and drilling."
If the Sixers are getting a healthy Embiid, then it changes everything they can do when the time comes. Philadelphia can play a different defensive scheme knowing he is back there protecting the rim. Just having him back there is such an imposing presence and he makes life easier for the Sixers in this instance.
"It’ll make a big difference," Maxey laughed. "He’s 7-foot-2, and he can protect the rim. So he's healthy. That's good."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 76ers' Tyrese Maxey gives insight into healthy Joel Embiid at practice
