Brett Brown: Embiid Needs to be "Crown Jewel" of Sixers' Defense

Members of the media joined 76ers head coach Brett Brown this afternoon to discuss this upcoming season. Here are some choice quotes from Brown with a bit of added commentary.

#Sixers Brett Brown chatting with media pic.twitter.com/n8nWhtZ7Qh

— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) September 15, 2016

Glad to see Brown is still sporting the "I just escaped from Jumanji" beard. He's aged faster than the president over the last three years.

Joel Embiid Watch

Brett Brown: "I see a more mature Joel Embiid." Says he will be practicing day 1 in training camp

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 15, 2016

Embiid is still  the goofy character we see on social media posting Instagram Stories and replying to Sam Hinkie's tweet, but if he's finally combining his off-the-court star potential with his on-the-court star potential, look out.

Brown sees Embiid practicing from day 1 of training camp. Understands that there will be parameters, but hopeful for pre-season game 1.

— Brian Seltzer (@brianseltzer) September 15, 2016

Preseason 2016: watch Embiid play off two-and-a-half years of rust. Tickets available now!

Brown says the "world shrinks" when you think of the players who can do what Embiid is capable of doing at his size.

— Brian Seltzer (@brianseltzer) September 15, 2016

Joel Embiid, Destroyer of Worlds.

Brown: "He (Embiid) needs to be the crown jewel, the centerpiece, of our defense." #sixers

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 15, 2016

While the basketball community swooned over Embiid's dream shakes and offensive potential during his brief year at Kansas, he displayed just as much potential on the defensive side of the ball and was considered as much of an elite defensive prospect as Anthony Davis and Nerlens Noel.

Brett Brown says he "really doesn't know" whether Joel Embiid will be the starting center on opening night

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 15, 2016

The tease continues.

Pace, Space and Ball Movement

#Sixers the ball will move. Brown wants to get up and down style wise. "The best passing team we have had yet."

— Dei Lynam (@dlynamCSN) September 15, 2016

Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and Sergio Rodriguez whipping the ball around the court will make Brown feel like he's back on the Spurs bench.

Brown shoots down any thought of Embiid playing the 4. Says he's 7'2", wants to put him "right where he belongs" .

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 15, 2016

Death Lineup Center Joel Embiid.

Brown on Dario: "he contradicts his birth certificate becausc his basketball experience is rich. He's not a kid."

— The700Level (@The700Level) September 15, 2016

The Homie is wise beyond his years.

Brett Brown says if the season started today, Bayless would be the starting point guard

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 15, 2016

Here comes that veteran presence!

#Sixers Brown: 'I don't want to play static. I don't want to play slow. We're going to move. We're going to have pace.'

— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) September 15, 2016

Jerryd Bayless being able to knock down triples helps with that.

Sees situations in which Simmons and Saric will play together at same time. Could give Simmons more opportunities on perimeter, in corners.

— Brian Seltzer (@brianseltzer) September 15, 2016

The Overcrowded Frontcourt

Brown on the 3 bigs (Noel, Okafor, Embiid) still being here: "I'm going to coach them until I'm not."

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 15, 2016

Brown's getting morbid here.

Brown said that when it comes to figuring out who plays, he wants to "reward competitiveness."

— Brian Seltzer (@brianseltzer) September 15, 2016

The internet demands video of Embiid, Noel and Jahlil Okafor playing each other in practice.

Brown thinks that Nerlens Noel has "elite" skills that embody a modern day five-man. "Elite defensive presence," pick and roll, lob.

— Brian Seltzer (@brianseltzer) September 15, 2016

If Embiid is definitely a five and Noel is definitely a five, something has to give here. When is the trade coming?

Win, Baby, Win

What drives Brett Brown each day: "Can you imagine when we win?"

— Brian Seltzer (@brianseltzer) September 15, 2016

Only every single day, Brett.