An important step for Andre Drummond is becoming a respected defender. Joel Embiid obviously has none for the Detroit Pistons center.
Following a 97-86 win over the Pistons, Embiid said he exploited Drummond’s weakness on the opposite end, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Defensively, he doesn’t play any defense. When we started the game, he was being aggressive and he was talking, too. … So what I was like [in my mind], ‘You want to do that? I’m going to kick your [butt] then. So that’s what I did.”
Isn’t that the truth.
Embiid scored a season-best 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. According to NBA.com, the Sixers center attempted and made eight shots within five feet of the rim when Drummond was on the floor.
Drummond’s struggles on defense aren’t a revelation, since he was one of the league’s worst rim protectors last year. Perhaps Embiid calling him out might spark a change for Drummond, but we’re not counting on it immediately.
Embiid, meanwhile, looks destined to trash-talk his way through what Philadelphia hopes is his first full season. And as long as Embiid keeps backing it up on the court, it’ll be tough for others to take a dig at him.