Why 76ers star Joel Embiid still believes in his outside shot amid 3-point shooting slump

Joel Embiid, star player for the Philadelphia 76ers, remains confident in his outside shooting ability despite a recent shooting slump. In the team's recent 119-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Embiid shot 0-of-9 from the field, including 0-of-2 from beyond the arc. This marked a season low, dropping his overall 3-point percentage to 3-of-28.

Embiid himself acknowledged the difficulty of these struggles in an interview following the game. "I believe in myself, but you know, when you’re in these moments and nothing is going in, whether it’s 3, big range, everything, layups, it’s hard to just not look at yourself and be down," he said. Despite this, Embiid emphasized the need to stay positive and continue playing.

This recent slump contrasts with Embiid's past, where he shot 33.3% from beyond the arc last season. Head coach Nick Nurse has encouraged Embiid to take more three-pointers. This recent shooting struggle has become a recurring theme for Embiid early in the season. Just two games prior, Embiid went 0-of-3 from deep in a win over the Detroit Pistons, joking afterward that it might have been his last three attempts.

However, he still managed to contribute with 26 points and 15 rebounds in that game. The Philadelphia 76ers, as a team, struggled in the Cleveland game, failing to lead by more than two points. The team's shooting percentages were poor, with only 36.5% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. LeBron James, returning to Cleveland, scored eight points on 3-of-12 shooting and had six turnovers.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers with 23 points, while Evan Mobley contributed 22. The loss ended Philadelphia's five-game winning streak, bringing their record to 8-2. Embiid and the Sixers aim to bounce back when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.