The backcourt combination of Pony + VJ has a bright future! Is it time for the 76ers to give up on Embiid as their core?

Translator's Note: This article was originally published in the "Philadelphia Inquirer". The author is Keith Pompey. The data in the article are as of the time of the original publication (November 2, local time). The opinions in the article have nothing to do with the translator and the platform.

The 76ers know that cultivating the backcourt combination of Maxey and Edgecombe may be the key to future success. But what does all this mean for Joel Embiid?

76ers head coach Nurse was asked at a press conference what he thought of the performance of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecomb in the backcourt. His answer made people feel that the 76ers knew exactly how far this combination could lead the team.

"I think they are a very good combination," Nurse said. "They have similarities. They are very explosive in the first step and can easily break through the opponent's defense. Obviously, Maxey is an excellent three-point shooter, and he has played a few more years than Edgecombe. But I think they can both They can play with the ball and without the ball. This combination is very ideal. They play extremely well together, and I believe this cooperation will continue to deepen, which is very exciting."

Nurse also said that Edgecombe, who was selected as the third overall pick in the NBA draft in June this year, obviously brought surprises. Looking back over the past five seasons, starting when he was coaching the Toronto Raptors, he has been praising Maxey’s special qualities.

Shortly after the 76ers selected Edgecombe, some people questioned whether he could become the starter in the season opener. But Nurse not only started him, but also made the rookie the primary ball-handler and encouraged him to shoot 3-pointers — all things doubters thought he would struggle with.

In the opening game against the Celtics, these critics were completely slapped in the face. Edgecombe made 5 of 13 shots from beyond the arc and scored 34 points, setting the third-highest scoring rookie debut record in NBA history.

Nurse’s statement at Friday’s post-game press conference also made reporters feel that cultivating the combination of Maxey and Edgecombe may be the key to the team’s future. After the first five games of the season, the duo is already making waves in the NBA.

But what does all this mean for Joel Embiid?

This center, who is 2.18 meters tall and weighs 127 kilograms, is the 76ers' most accomplished player since Allen Iverson. He is the 2023 NBA regular season MVP, a seven-time All-Star, and has won the scoring title twice. However, after undergoing knee surgery in April, his condition has deteriorated significantly. This was his second surgery on his left knee in 14 months and his third in nine years.

The previous 108-109 loss to the Celtics was perhaps Embiid's best performance in the four games this season. He made 6 of 14 shots, scored 20 points, and also scored a season-high 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. His playing time also reached a season-long 25 minutes and 04 seconds.

But in terms of stability, he still has a long way to go.

In the first quarter, Embiid scored 8 points on 2 of 3 shots and 3 of 3 free throws. However, in the second quarter, he made all 4 shots and failed to score a point. In the third quarter, he made 4 of 5 shots and contributed 9 points. In the fourth quarter, the 31-year-old player missed two shots, including a potential game-winning three-pointer seconds before the end.

Although his condition has improved, Embiid is still a beat slow on the defensive end, and it seems a bit difficult to grab rebounds.

Maxi scored a team-high 26 points, and also sent out a season-high 14 assists and 2 blocks. He currently leads the league in scoring with 35.2 points per game, is fourth in the league in assists (9.4 per game), and is tied for third in three-pointers made (22).

In Friday's loss to the Celtics in the NBA Cup, Edgecombe played 39 minutes and 44 seconds, scoring 17 points and 5 assists. He currently leads all rookies in scoring (21.2 points per game), assists (5.4 per game) and playing time (40.2 minutes per game).

But two games in a row, Edgecombe could have had a bigger impact. He only took one shot in the fourth quarter - a three-pointer with 51.4 seconds left to help the 76ers narrow the deficit to two points. Despite making 7 of 11 shots from the field, there were still periods in the game where he was lost offensively.

In the previous overtime victory over the Wizards in an away game on Tuesday, his first shot, a missed three-pointer, did not appear until 4 minutes and 07 seconds left in the first half. While Edgecombe has the potential to be a top combo guard, it's hard for him to reach his full potential next to Embiid -- at least not yet.

Currently, the 76ers need to figure out whether Embiid can return to his past dominant state. Embiid is an offensive-oriented player, so most of the time, he will focus on scoring, which will inevitably affect the shooting opportunities of some teammates.

For the 76ers, the best thing to do is to arrange Edgecombe's playing time reasonably so that he can stay on the court and play a greater role when Embiid is off.

But Edgecombe has proven himself. There were questions about his shooting ability before, but now he's shooting 43.8% from three-point range and 49.4% from the field, and his performance is only getting better.

As a rookie, Edgecombe is still learning and adapting to the rhythm of the NBA. While he has looked lost at times over the past few games, it's hard to argue that he needs to be more aggressive. After all, this is only his first five games in the NBA. He has not faced top defenders or teams that will use various tactics to restrict him.

Everything now is a learning process for him.

But the key is that letting him experience this now as the team's main attacker will be beneficial to his personal and long-term development of the 76ers.. If Embiid remains the centerpiece of the offense, it may take Edgecombe longer to work through these growing pains.