The Philadelphia 76ers have now lost four straight games, moving them closer to the play-in tournament picture. Joel Embiid was absent from all of those games, and given how terribly this team has done without the superstar big man, it’s no surprise that they’re suddenly struggling to find wins.
That said, another concerning pattern is the fact that Dominick Barlow, who has otherwise been impressive this season, appears to be having a harder time on the floor without his offensive partner in Embiid. While the sample size is clearly not large enough to make a definitive indictment on his long-term viability, this cannot continue if he wants to stay in Philly longer.
This season, the 22-year-old big man is averaging 8.4 points and five rebounds per game in 24 minutes per night. Those numbers won’t jump off the page, especially since his role is to be a connector on offense and a stalwart on defense. But numbers aside, his impact has noticeably diminished without Embiid.
Dominick Barlow has to find his feet for the 76ers even without Joel Embiid
Barlow has played with Embiid more than he has this season, but counting on that to still be the case in the future is quite a bold proposition. There will be long periods where he will take on a more prominent role in the frontcourt, perhaps even as a lone player in certain parts of the game.
He’s not really someone the 76ers should feel comfortable with taking a lot of shots, but given his athleticism and mobility, he could be more assertive as a pick-and-roll partner or as a cutter in the open lanes. He’s also a good individual rebounder, so he can punish teams that play small when trotted out as a nominal power forward.
There really isn’t much to complain about with his defense, but if he can provide even more resistance at the rim, the 76ers could have more options at the big man position. Andre Drummond and Adem Bona typically struggle against faster and more agile frontcourts, while Barlow fares much better against these archetypes, providing a natural counterbalance to teams fielding these lineups.
Dominick Barlow has quietly become a vital part of this 76ers team, which makes it all the more important that he can remain viable without Joel Embiid as the franchise builds for the future.
#76ers #faced #alarming #pattern #Dominick #Barlow