PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers had to go small on Sunday night when they took on the Detroit Pistons without the services of Joel Embiid. When considering it was the second night of a back-to-back, the Sixers rested Embiid and LeBron James play the 5.
Of course, that isn't sustainable and isn't really the plan on the nights Embiid can't go. It's tough right now because the Sixers are also missing Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker, and Tacko Fall at the moment. Therefore, coach Nick Nurse had to go to James at the 5 next to Dean Wade up front. Playing center is not something James expects to play for the Sixers unless he absolutely has to.
"Well, (expletive), we got an MVP over there," James said while looking at Embiid's locker after the loss
to the Pistons. "I'm not here to have a sustainable role at the 5. We have Joel Embiid on the team. I don't see it being a sustainable role, but it's a role that we know that we can tap into if we need it."
To James' point, he can play any the position if he absolutely has to. The Sixers can go to that role and build on it from there. As Philadelphia takes steps forward, it shouldn't have to use James there much whenever Embiid can't give it a go due to the other big men returning from their respective injuries.
"I know I can play 1 through 5, offensively and defensively, if needed," James added. "But, sustainable role playing the 5? I don't think that's--if I were to say I was signed here to have a sustainable role at the 5, I don't think any of us actually want that."
With that being said, the Sixers are just looking to make adjustments along the way here in the early going of the season. They play one way when Embiid is on the floor which is a 5-out offense. Without him, they need to go to a different style that benefits James, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown as they head into the season.
"So, I think the biggest thing is with Process we play a lot of 5-out because it's good for us," said Maxey. "I think when we go small ball, it would be good for us to play a little bit different way. Maybe 4-out, one in, create some driving lanes. Maybe get Dean or Bron or somebody else off the top of the key, just in case like JB wants to crack the paint or something like that. We're gonna figure it out. You know what I'm saying? I think it's game four? And I'm not too worried about that."
Maxey shouldn't be too worried about that. It's four games into an 82-game season. There are still 78 more of these to figure out and push the team forward. One has to believe Philadelphia will eventually figure this out and use the highly talented players on this roster the correct way.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: LeBron James, Sixers discuss small-ball lineups without Joel Embiid
