Sixers are still working on Paul George’s chemistry with Joel Embiid
George is averaging 14.1 points and 3.6 assists in the 12 games he has played alongside the All-Star center.
NEW YORK — As the 76ers move closer to the midway point of their season, one thing is abundantly clear: The two-man game between Paul George and Joel Embiid still needs work.
“I’m hoping to see the Joel-Paul two-man game get a few more reps so we can see where that is at,” coach Nick Nurse said Saturday before a 123-94 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. “I don’t have just enough data on it to see. It just hasn’t happened enough yet to see.
“I mean, I think it’s something we need to develop, and hopefully we can as we go here.”
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Because of injuries to both players, the two All-Stars have played together in only 12 of the Sixers’ 33 games. On Saturday, Embiid finished with game highs of 28 points and 12 rebounds in just three quarters of action. George, who also sat out the fourth quarter, added 17 points, six assists, and two steals.
But for the most part, George’s offense has suffered while playing alongside the 2023 NBA MVP. George is averaging 14.1 points and 3.6 assists during those 12 games. He’s shooting 38.3% from the field — including 30.1% on three-pointers.
George’s two lowest scoring outputs — two and five points — have come while playing alongside Embiid. And the nine points he scored Thursday in a loss to the Golden State Warriors tied for his third-lowest scoring output.
However, George is averaging 19.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in the 10 games without Embiid, shooting 46.4% from the field and 38.1% on threes.
Like Nurse, George thinks things will improve as he plays more alongside Embiid. Part of the problem is finding a way to incorporate the swingman in the mix with Embiid and point guard Tyrese Maxey.
“I think we’ve gotten more comfortable,” George said. “The dialogue and communication between him and I is getting stronger and stronger, what he sees, what I see.
“And you know, as my rhythm is starting to come back, he knows I’m reliable out there with him. And, yeah, I think just continued games, continued reps, we’ll get better.”
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The Sixers (14-19) will get an opportunity to work on their two-man game Monday against the Phoenix Suns at the Wells Fargo Center.
That game jump-starts a three-game homestand that includes contests against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday and New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
“It’s just some other stuff going on too, like who’s kind of getting going early, and who isn’t and that kind of stuff,” Nurse said of George’s production. “Tyrese kind of usually waits and goes, you know, is a second half guy. Joel’s usually a guy at the start. You’ve got to figure out, again, where PG fits into that.
“I think he’s been trying to get himself going early in games. I’m not sure that’s been that great for us. We’ve just got to keep monitoring all that stuff.”