The Philadelphia 76ers must figure out how to win without Joel Embiid. The timeline was unclear after the reigning MVP opted for surgery on his left knee to repair the meniscus. After the surgery, it is being reported Joel Embiid will be out for at least four weeks.
Joel Embiid Out At Least Four Weeks
The phrase used in reports is “re-evaluated in approximately four weeks.” This isn’t good news for Joel Embiid. Historically, when this is reported, the player is out for longer. At this point, the team has no clue exactly how long the recovery will be and needs to look again in a month to see how the healing process is going.
The team hasn’t ruled out a regular season return, but there is still so much unknown now. Embiid was having another MVP season. He was on pace to join Wilt Chamberlain as the only player to average 35 points, ten rebounds, and five assists in a season. It is a massive hole for the team to fill.
Outlook For The Next Month Without Joel Embiid
Let’s take the best-case scenario. If Joel Embiid misses exactly one month, it puts him back on the court in early March with 20 games to play. Will the team be able to be in a good playoff position at that point? Philadelphia will be without Embiid for a crucial Eastern Conference stretch in February.
- @ Cleveland Cavaliers February 12
- vs. Miami Heat February 14
- vs. New York Knicks February 22
- vs. Cleveland Cavaliers February 23
- vs. Milwaukee Bucks February 25
- @ Boston Celtics February 27
All of these teams are competing for playoff positioning with the 76ers. While the All-Star break in the middle of this stretch is beneficial, the February 22-25 stretch of games is brutal. There is little margin for error in the standings.
Eastern Conference Standings
Without Joel Embiid, Philadelphia lost six of their last seven games and fell to fifth in the East. They are within two games of the second seed, but Cleveland and New York are among the hottest teams in the NBA. Milwaukee also cannot be overlooked despite their recent struggles. Philadelphia must stop the bleeding and win key matchups to return to the top four.
They do have a three-game lead on the Indiana Pacers, who hold the sixth seed. However, Tyrese Haliburton is scheduled to return from his hamstring injury soon. If they can go on a run, they could catch Philadelphia. If the losing continues, the 76ers could find themselves in the play-in.
Can The Team Hold On Until Joel Embiid Returns?
Four weeks is generous. More than likely, Embiid will return with only a handful of games to play. At that point, it may be too late to climb the standings. However, there is hope. Last year, the Miami Heat showed that even a team in the play-in can make a run to the NBA Finals. Philadelphia becomes a matchup nightmare in the first round if Joel Embiid is healthy.
Even if the 76ers get the eighth seed, they have the talent with Embiid on the court to take down the top teams in the NBA. Philadelphia has to hope they can win enough games to make it into the postseason and then get Embiid back healthy. If not, it will be another missed opportunity for the 76ers.
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Matt has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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