The Sixers’ season has been all over the place, and a big part of that has to do with Joel Embiid’s knee problems. He’s been dealing with swelling in his surgically repaired left knee, which kept him out of Friday’s game against the Nets and will also keep him out of Sunday’s matchup with the Clippers.
At first, it seemed like he might play Friday, but after trying to warm up, it was a no-go. Head coach Nick Nurse explained: “He has some swelling from the last game. They do what they can do to remove that swelling, but [he] just didn’t feel good enough to go.” The team says Embiid is getting treatment, with more updates expected early next week. So far, he’s only played in four of their 14 games, and the Sixers are sitting at a rough 3-12. It’s clear his absence is a huge reason for their struggles.
Of course, keeping Embiid healthy is priority number one, but you can’t help but wonder about his durability. As Kyle Neubeck pointed out, “The Plan rests on keeping a guy healthy for the playoffs who couldn’t get through two games in a week without swelling in his knee.” Yikes. And it’s not just Embiid. Other key players, like Paul George, have also been injured. Still, the Sixers managed to pull off a solid 113-98 win over Brooklyn on Friday, which is at least something positive. But if they can’t stay healthy, their playoff chances are looking shaky.
Can The Sixers Survive Without Joel Embiid?
The schedule gives them a bit of a break coming up, with seven of their next 12 games against teams with losing records (Hornets, Jazz, and Blazers). It’s a chance to turn things around, but if Embiid and George are still out, it won’t be easy. Nick Nurse is staying hopeful, saying, “Hopefully, Monday, we’ll be able to give you an update on where we’re at, and hopefully, it’ll be in good shape.”
Embiid’s earlier comments about managing his workload this season are hanging over all this, too. He backtracked on avoiding back-to-back games completely, but the swelling in his knee has forced the team to play it super safe. The medical staff is trying to make sure he’s ready for the playoffs, but the way things are going, even making it to the postseason, is starting to feel like a stretch.
If all goes well, Embiid could be back as soon as Wednesday against the Rockets. Until then, the Sixers need to figure out how to win without their MVP. The clock is ticking on their rough start, and if they can’t hold it together in Embiid’s absence, their playoff hopes might just slip away.
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