The scene marked. In Game 4 against the Celtics, PJ Tucker rocked Joel Embiid. An image that somehow symbolizes the mental work of the 2021 champion in Philadelphia.
If sportingly, Tucker achieved a very discreet regular season (3.5 points on average), behind the scenes, on the other hand, he worked to change the mentality of this group. From the training camp, he wanted to impose his communication and pass it on to everyone.
“I think that’s the main topic I’ve been talking about all year,” he confides in NBC Sports. “We had to communicate better and continue to do so all season. Looking back, we have come a long way since the start of the season. We haven’t stopped talking about it during the season and even if we don’t think about it anymore, it works. »
The proof with Tobias Harris, visibly influenced by Tucker. “Tobias talks a lot more now,” remarks the former Houston and Miami player. “He adapted. The group has totally changed since those days. »
PJ Tucker pushes Joel Embiid to open up more
But perhaps the most important and difficult player to reshape was Joel Embiid. Leader on the floor with his physique and his performance, the MVP 2023 is not the most talkative, far from it. “Even now, he doesn’t talk much,” see the interior. “It’s his actions that speak for him. »
Nevertheless, with Tucker close to him, the Cameroonian, who does not like dining out, has opened up more. At least he doesn’t cut himself off from the group, which is essential for Doc Rivers.
“Joel is not always talkative and he is often a loner”, describes the former Celtics coach. “It’s an effort for him to give himself to the team. It is not necessary to lead a team by shouting. You just have to give yourself to each other, especially when you are the best player. It’s so easy to tell yourself that you’re the best so to isolate yourself. This is not the case and that helps. »
Thanks WHO ? Thank you PJ Tucker! “People don’t realize how long it took to get here,” slips the Sixers bulldog. “It’s a process over months, over the season, ups and downs, injuries… We had fun building this team, and now it’s about winning. »
| P.J. Tucker | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2006-07 | TOR | 17 | 5 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 57.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| 2012-13 | PHX | 79 | 24 | 47.3 | 31.4 | 74.4 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 6.4 |
| 2013-14 | PHX | 81 | 31 | 43.1 | 38.7 | 77.6 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 9.4 |
| 2014-15 | PHX | 78 | 31 | 43.8 | 34.5 | 72.7 | 1.5 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 9.1 |
| 2015-16 | PHX | 82 | 31 | 41.1 | 33.0 | 74.6 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 8.0 |
| 2016-17* | All Teams | 81 | 28 | 41.3 | 35.7 | 77.4 | 1.4 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 6.7 |
| 2016-17* | PHX | 57 | 29 | 41.5 | 33.8 | 79.2 | 1.7 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 7.0 |
| 2016-17* | TOR | 24 | 25 | 40.6 | 40.0 | 68.8 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
| 2017-18 | HOO | 82 | 28 | 39.0 | 37.1 | 71.7 | 1.1 | 4.4 | 5.6 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 6.1 |
| 2018-19 | HOO | 82 | 34 | 39.6 | 37.7 | 69.5 | 1.5 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 7.3 |
| 2019-20 | HOO | 72 | 34 | 41.5 | 35.8 | 81.3 | 1.6 | 5.1 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 6.9 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 52 | 26 | 37.3 | 33.6 | 75.0 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 3.7 |
| 2020-21 * | HOO | 32 | 30 | 36.6 | 31.4 | 78.3 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 4.4 |
| 2020-21 * | MIL | 20 | 20 | 39.1 | 39.4 | 60.0 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 71 | 28 | 48.4 | 41.5 | 73.8 | 1.4 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 7.6 |
| 2022-23 | PHL | 75 | 26 | 42.7 | 39.3 | 82.6 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
| Total | 852 | 29 | 42.5 | 36.6 | 74.9 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 6.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
