How to Shut Down Joel Embiid

This article is a facsimile of an earlier publication on The Basketball Writers (TBW), which recently closed its doors.

Coach Adam “Spins” Spinella of Dickinson College breaks down how the Toronto Raptors held Joel Embiid scoreless (in 32 minutes played!) during their 101-96 win on Monday. Embiid went 0-11 on the night and was held scoreless for the first time in his career, even as the Sixers tried to change their offensive approach at halftime to free him up.
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Nonetheless, the Raptors were a couple of steps ahead with their defensive scheme. It got so frustrating that Embiid even wound up being benched for a long stretch of this contest between to Eastern Conference contenders: