Joel Embiid is the Philadelphia 76ers best player and undisputed cornerstone. This season, he has had a tough go with knee problems that have kept him out of a good chunk of playing time. He’s only played 19 games this season. This is largely a result of his inability to overcome chronic issues in his left knee and recently reported soreness in his right knee. The 76ers’ hopes for a successful season heavily rely on Embiid’s ability to regain full mobility and contribute effectively to the team’s performance.
Yet as the team progresses through the early part of the season, a number of challenges remain. The truth is it’s pretty obvious that Embiid’s health is the easiest of those worries. His rebounding numbers have plummeted. This sharp dropoff indicates he’s perhaps starting to lose the explosiveness that has typically made him such an impactful defender and rebounder. Executives and scouts across the league express both concern and optimism regarding Embiid’s recovery and its impact on the team’s overall performance.
The Importance of Joel Embiid
The Philadelphia 76ers are acutely aware of the importance of Joel Embiid in their quest for success in the Eastern Conference. His absence has already taken a toll on the team’s performance. For seven of Embiid’s first eight full seasons, the 76ers have been a victim of one of the league’s biggest laugh tracks. They’ve been more than 10 points per 100 possessions worse when he’s off the floor.
Equally, if not more, important is his ability to create opportunities for teammates, which will prove indispensable. When Embiid is on the floor, he makes such a dominating impact. It’s his skills in dribble handoff actions that create absurdly easy scoring opportunities for his teammates. Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. have taken on leading roles with dazzling production in his wake. They will never be able to imitate Embiid’s unique game-changing dynamics.
“He’s a legitimate first- or second-team All-NBA player now,” – an East scout
The versatility of Embiid’s skill set provides the opportunity for him to be used efficiently as a floor-spacing power forward. This dynamic with his playmaking versatility can not only unlock driving lanes for other rollers, but give his offense more offensive options to work with as well. How he adjusts to this new role will be up to him.
“Better to not have him handling the ball as much anymore. You can run some pick-and-rolls with him as the screener to take advantage of his shooting and ability to attack mismatches,” – the first East scout
Navigating Injury Concerns
Given how injury-plagued Embiid’s last few postseasons have been, the question of his long-term viability this season looms over the Sixers. He sat out more than two weeks’ worth of games due to swelling in his right knee. Now, worries are growing about how he will play upon returning. Despite the misgivings, sources seem hopeful for his comeback. They believe that Embiid is beginning to gain confidence in his cracked up left knee.
The 76ers will have to beat his unique combination of size and physicality into him through training and injury management. His agility is important not just for his offensive duties as a scorer but for his new, added defensive tasks. A healthy Embiid will be the biggest factor in deciding how far up the 76ers soar in the Eastern Conference standings.
“It just looks like there is more energy,” – an East executive
Coaches and executives are keenly observing how well Embiid can integrate back into the team’s strategies without overexerting himself. The initial indications point to him having an outsized impact at team morale, at least when he’s on the floor.
Team Dynamics Without Their Star Player
Considering Embiid’s past and current injury difficulties, the Philadelphia 76ers have needed to adjust their game plan. The volume in their offense that has been relying on the likes of Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. has skyrocketed. Fans lovingly refer to them as “VJ” and “Edgecombe.” Though these players have all proven to be resilient players, their success cannot substitute for what Embiid provides.
“People can see the vision… Everyone loves Maxey, and now everyone is crazy about VJ; you see those guys on the floor and you see the vibes and the fans, and they make everybody around them better,” – a third East scout
Beyond this dependency, there is an understanding that the squad can’t just wait around for Embiid’s health to re-materialize.
“They may not be good enough, but it’s not just waiting around for Paul and Joel [to get healthy] like it’s been in the past,” – an East executive
The Raptors’ coaching staff, led by Nick Nurse, has been really important in keeping the team afloat over this tough stretch. His coaching style is one of the reasons that has injected new life and energy into the squad.
“I’m impressed by what Nick [Nurse] has done… He’s getting these guys to play hard,” – an East assistant coach
Fortunately, the players have taken to Nurse’s approach well, showing a lot of fight even when times are tough.
Looking Ahead
As the season wears on, unfortunately, so will the storyline of Joel Embiid’s health, for fans and pundits alike. His recovery will obviously have a huge effect on how great he is. Beyond that, it will heavily influence the direction of the Philadelphia 76ers’ future amid the Eastern Conference’s most competitive landscape in a decade.
The expectation is clear: for a bounce-back season from Embiid could do wonders for a team that has become increasingly reliant on its secondary options. His elite-time zone-type skills would easily raise his personal profile to an all-time high. At the very least, he’ll improve the squad’s overall defense and offense.
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