Sixers’ Joel Embiid searches for answers: ‘Nothing is going in’

CLEVELAND — Joel Embiid knows something is off. Figuring out how to fix it has been the difficult part.

The Sixers center finished with six points and missed all nine of his field-goal attempts in Friday’s 119-95 road loss to the Cavs. That included two more misses from beyond the arc, where his season has been a struggle from the start.

“I think the way I’m jumping, and my hands [placement] are just not what it used to be,” Embiid told reporters. “I just have to go back and look at the clips and see what we can change and … get better.”

Embiid is shooting 3-of-28 on 3-pointers, or 10.7 percent. As Keith Pompey of Sporting News noted, he has missed 17 straight since his last make against the Cavs on Oct. 22.

For Embiid, the explanation goes beyond mechanics. After appearing in just 57 games over the previous two seasons, he’s trying to recover his shooting touch while managing the workload needed to stay available.

“I think it’s obviously being out basically the last two years, being in and out, not really having the opportunity to get on the court as much … to get the reps,” he said.

That has changed how he prepares.

“I used to be able to get in the gym every single day, just getting the reps in, working on it. That’s why it was so automatic,” Embiid said.

“Now you got to find a way to kind of mix it up, because you got to manage your load. So you don’t get as much reps as possible.”

That’s a tough balance. The work that might help restore his rhythm also adds to the physical demands he’s trying to manage.

Friday, the Cavs made the assignment even tougher. Evan Mobley and the defense kept Embiid from finding much of anything, and LeBron James had his own rough return to Rocket Arena.

Embiid said he’ll keep working. But he didn’t pretend the misses are easy to shake.

“I believe in myself,” he said, “but when you’re in these moments, and nothing is going in … it’s hard not to look at yourself and be down.”