Sixers are going to need Joel Embiid to be even better on defense during 2021-22 NBA season

CAMDEN, N.J. — Coming off of a terrific season in which he established career-highs in virtually every offensive category and was the runner-up for NBA MVP, 76ers’ star big man Joel Embiid is going to have to be even more effective in 2021-22, especially on defense.

The embattled Ben Simmons not planning to play for the Sixers again or report to training camp, which begins Tuesday, as well as having asked the organization to trade him multiple times, not surprisingly was a hot topic at Monday’s media day. Simmons’ absence has significant implications for Doc Rivers’ team.

The Sixers will miss Simmons on defense most of all. He was the runner-up for NBA Defensive Player of the Year and regularly guarded opponents’ top non-center for a club that compiled the best record in the Eastern Conference (49-23).

The Sixers had the league’s second-best defensive rating (107.0, trailing only the Lakers, 106.8) last season, as well as limiting opponents to the fourth-lowest field goal percentage (.450) and allowing the eighth-fewest points (108.75). Simmons was perhaps the biggest reason for those numbers.

During media day at the team’s training facility, Rivers said it’s difficult to project exactly how Simmons’ absence will impact Embiid on “D.”

“Defensively, (Embiid) being a basket protector is key for us,” Rivers said. “… How many times does he have to focus on his guy in this NBA (it doesn’t happen often)? So his team defense and his voice is vital for us. That’s where we want him to take the next step.”

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For his part, Embiid is confident that he’ll continue to have considerable influence on what happens at the defensive end regardless which Sixers are in front of him.

“I’ve always believed that and you can look at the advanced numbers and defensive metrics and all that stuff, it doesn’t matter who’s on the floor with me,” Embiid said. “I’ve always been able to be the anchor of the defense.”

Swingman Matisse Thybulle is a very good defender, but he probably won’t be in the starting lineup unless he’s improved his ability to score, especially from the 3-point line. It’s possible second-year pro Tyrese Maxey, who can create shots for himself and others, could step in as the primary lead guard.

Regardless who handles that role, a drop-off in quality of the Sixers’ perimeter defense would place additional pressure on the 27-year-old Embiid to deal with more guards and forwards who beat their man and get into the lane.

“As I mentioned in the past, I have aspirations to become the Defensive Player of the Year,” Embiid said. “For me, personally, I just got to be more active. It’s hard to do because, offensively, I’m also asked to do a lot. And I don’t mind. I love carrying the team on both ends and I think that’s what probably makes me special.”

Though he averaged a career-high 1.0 steals last season, Embiid slipped from an average of 2.0 blocked shots during his first three NBA campaigns to 1.3 in his last two seasons. That number probably needs to go back up in 2021-22 for the Sixers to remain in the East’s upper echelon.

Embiid did average 2.0 blocks in the second-round playoff loss to the lower-seeded Hawks despite being bothered by a partially torn meniscus.

“I think, for me, it’s all about just being in the best shape of my life,” said Embiid, who has yet to be 100% physically in any of his four postseasons.

While Rivers on Monday continued to deny answering a question if the Sixers can win going forward with Simmons after the Game 7 Atlanta defeat (“I don’t know the answer to that right now,” was Rivers’ verbatim response), Embiid had no reservations with saying Simmons passing up an uncontested dunk with 3:30 remaining was the turning point of the deciding contest for a simple reason.

“I really believed that was the turning point of the game,” Embiid said Monday. “... I didn’t call out anybody.”

Embiid confirmed a report that he, Tobias Harris and other Sixers wanted to visit Simmons in Los Angeles to discuss the situation, only to be told that Simmons didn’t want it to happen.

“I’m just disappointed that he’s not here because he knows we can win together,” Embiid said.

If Embiid is going to get past the second round of the playoffs without Simmons, which looks like it could turn out to be the end result here, his work at the defensive end figures to be essential for that to finally become a viable possibility.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly